Lake

See Riparian; Tide. A grant of land to a natural pond or lake extends only to the water's edge... Mere proprietorship in the surrounding lands will not, in all cases, give ownership to the beds of natural non-navigable lakes, regardless of their size. Each ease depends largely upon its own facts. ^ Xiakes Ontario, Erie, Superior, etc., are inland seas. Different States border on thern on one side, and a foreign nation on the other. A great and growing commerce is carried on upon them, subject to all the incidents and hazards that attend commerce on the ocean. Hostile fleets have encountered on them, and prizes been made; and every reason which exists for the grant of admiralty jurisdiction to the general government on the Atlantic sea^ applies with equal force to the lakes... The lakes and the waters connecting them, although not tide-waters, are undoubtedly public^ waters, and within the grant of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction in the Constitution.* See Admiralty; Sea, High.