SEA. The ocean; the great mass of waters which surrounds the land, and which
probably extends from pole to pole, covering nearly three quarters of the
globe. Waters within the ebb and flow of the tide, are to be considered the
sea. Gilp. R. 526.
2. The sea is public and common to all people, and every person has an
equal right to navigate it, or to fish there; Ang. on Tide Wat. 44 to 49;
Dane's Abr. c. 68, a. 3, 4; Inst. 2, 1, 1; and to land upon the sea, shore.
(q.v.)
3. Every nation has jurisdiction to the distance of a cannon shot, (q,
v.) or marine league, over the water adjacent to its shore. 2 Cranch, 187,
234; 1 Circuit Rep. 62; Bynk. Qu. Pub. Juris. 61; 1 Azuni Mar. Law, 204; Id.
185; Vattel, 207: