146 THE ARGUMENT OP THE UNITED STATES. 



adopted in practice between the two nations; and the word "coasts" 

 clearty included the sinuosities of the shore of the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence and signified its curving shore line. 



So in the other treaties, acts, and documents collected, the 

 word " coasts " refers to the coast line, comprehending the sinu- 

 osities of the shore. Nor was any different meaning given to the 

 word by the lexicographers of the period, whose definitions are also 

 gathered in this argument. 



The word signified " the edge of the land next the sea. the shore." 

 The word " shore " in turn was defined : " The coast of the sea." & 

 The history of the negotiations has shown that the interdicted 

 waters lay within three marine miles of the shores and necessarily 

 comprehended bays, creeks, or harbors lying within the " maritime 

 limits" and within "the exclusive British jurisdiction." 



When, therefore, the American plenipotentiaries drafted this re- 

 nunciatory clause, and subsequently, when the plenipotentiaries of 

 both powers agreed upon its terms, they provided that the inhab- 

 itants of the United States should renounce any liberty previously 

 enjoyed of taking, drying, and curing fish on or within three 

 marine miles of all the coasts, except the sections of coast, which 

 previously had been specifically designated. The word " coasts " 

 comprehended the coast line of all the great bays; and, of course, the 

 three miles could not be measured from the inner coast line of bays, 

 creeks, or harbors six marine miles or less in width, for the three-mile 

 line drawn across their entrances from the opposite shores closed such 

 bays, irrespective of their inner extent. The three-mile-from-land 

 rule of measurement excluded the fishing vessels from such bays, 

 creeks, or harbors, as it would be impossible to enter them without 

 passing through waters within three marine miles of the coast at the 

 entrances. Such bays, creeks, or harbors, necessarily lying landward 

 of the three-mile line, were " bays, creeks, or harbors of His Britan- 

 nic Majesty's Dominions in America;" and as to them the plenipoten- 

 tiaries provided a simple rule of thumb for the guidance of Ameri- 

 can fishing vessels. 



A line following the sinuosities of the coasts at a distance of three 

 marine miles seaward would not enter bays, creeks, or harbors six 

 marine miles or less in width at their entrances that is, bays, creeks, 

 or harbors " within the exclusive British jurisdiction;" and therefore 



Infra, page 241. & Infra, page 242. 



