The recent fishing dispute involving Britain's challenge 

 of Norway's method of fixing base lines from which to measure the 

 width of the territorial sea, / together with other adjustments 

 of fishing zones by various covintries, has focused interest 

 directly on this problem. Recently Ecuador established a base 

 line drawn directly between prominent points of her coast line 

 which, in effect, extends the Ecuadoran claims of sovereignty far 

 in excess of a 12-mile-wide band for most of her continental coast. 



The right of "innocent passage" as applied to fishing vessels 

 has been involved in at least one recent seizure of an American 

 tuna boat^/ Right of certain foreign vessels to navigate through 

 the territorial sea of another country for the purpose of traversing 

 that sea without entering inland waters, or of proceeding to or 

 from inland waters, is a basic principle of international law. 

 The United States position is that this right applies to fishing 

 vessels as well as merchant ships. 



2L / Norway's method of fixing base lines by drawing straight lines 

 between prominent points of land instead of following the 

 sinuosities of the coast line was upheld by the World Court. 



22 / Notre Dame was taken into custody by Ecuador on November hf 

 " 1951, for alleged violation of Ecuadoran waters and fined 

 $5j376.20, which amount was paid on November 20, 1951, under 

 personal protest of the captain. The United States Government 

 has asked the Ecuadoran Government to reconsider the case 

 charging that they have no right to deny innocent passage. 



270 



