32 
and satisfactory definition. I think the suggestion of a standard 
depth is one that we will certainly want to give most careful thought 
to and see what its implications are as it is applied in different 
parts of the world. 
DISCUSSION OF A 600-METER DEPTH 
Senator Prty. I wonder if you could sharpen that statement a 
bit, and give me a reaction as to whether you lean toward the idea of 
an arbitrary fixed 600-meter depth, or rather lean away from it? 
Mr. Meeker. I think it is difficult to say at this time. One of the 
complications here relates to the claims of some countries to very 
wide bands of territorial waters. Now, those claims are made most 
often in areas where the ocean becomes deep quite near the shore. 
Senator Prin. If you will excuse me for interrupting, there is no 
relationship between territorial waters and continental shelf. 
Mr. Mrrexer. There need not be. The problem on the west coast 
of South America, for example, is that because the waters become 
deep very rapidly, there is no continental shelf in the sense that 
people understood it back in the 1940’s and 1950’s. This was what 
led some of the west coast countries to make claims on territorial 
waters out to 200 miles. This is one of the practical factors in the 
world situation that we have to cope with in trying to decide where 
the continental shelf extends, and where it should end. 
IT simply mention this because it is a problem in following with com- 
plete consistency a rule which would be limited to depth of water. 
Depth of water may be an important factor. Other factors may have 
to be taken into account, also. 
TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION 
Senator Peri. A question of fact, or of law: if a murder is com- 
mitted on a Texas tower built beyond present territorial limits, what 
jurisdiction applies ? 
Mr. Merxer. That is somewhat difficult to determine, but I would 
think one could make out an argument that the tower being affixed to 
the shelf, and the shelf being under the jurisdiction of the coastal 
state, the jurisdiction of the coastal state would attach. It seems to me 
that a strong argument can be made out in that sense. 
Senator Peri. Here—and I don’t mean to put a plug for my book, 
“The Challenge of the Seven Seas” published by Morrow & Co., but— 
we discussed the building of a seamount on the continental shelf, but 
maybe our technology would be beyond the shelf. In that case, where 
would the jurisdiction lie, if the murder was committed on that sea- 
mount ? 
Mr. Merexen. I think that very question illustrates some of the prob- 
lem that we have before us. 
Senator Petz. Exactly. ; 
Mr. Mrexer. There is today no definitive, accepted legal regime out 
beyond the continental shelf. It is one of the things which has to be 
developed and agreed. 
Senator Pex. If a nation developed a deep trawler that picked up 
some of these manganese nodules and another ship came along or a 
submersible came along, cut the ships’ lines and took them away, hi- 
