576 



CHAPTER II. 



GENERAL ADOPTION OF THE THREE-MILE LIMIT. 



IT is evident from the foregoing that, notwithstanding the 

 variation in the extent of water claimed in certain cases, the 

 principle of determining the general boundary of the terri- 

 torial sea by the range of guns from the coast had become 

 tolerably firmly established in the practice of nations before 

 the end of the eighteenth century, with reference in particular 

 to the rights of neutrals. Shortly before the century closed, 

 moreover, we have seen that one of the important maritime 

 Powers, the United States of America, had adopted a fixed 

 distance of three miles or one marine league as equivalent to 

 the utmost range of the cannon of those days. The range of 

 guns naturally varied according to their size and power, 

 and though it was specified in some of the Continental 

 ordinances that the distance was to be determined by a large 

 gun of battery, there was no certainty that it would be every- 

 where the same. It was thus clearly an advantage to have 

 a fixed distance, which could be marked on charts, substituted 

 for the less definite cannon range, so long as it really repre- 

 sented it. By the progress of the military art, however, most 

 notably perhaps after about the middle of last century, the 

 range of guns became enormously increased, so that long ago 

 the three-mile limit ceased to represent it. 



The new boundary of one marine league, as equivalent to 

 the range of guns, was soon introduced into English law 

 and practice, in the first place through the decisions of the 

 High Court of Admiralty in questions affecting the extent 

 of neutral waters. It is noteworthy that nothing was heard 

 at this period aboJit the principle of the King's Chambers 



