Creek

In maritime law. Such little inlets of the sea, whether within, the precinct or extent of a port or without, which are narrow passages, and have shore on either side of them. Callis, Sew. 56; 5 Taunt. 705. Such inlets that, though possibly for their extent and situation they might be ports, yet they are either members of or dependent upon other ports. The term imports a recess, cove, bay, or inlet in the shore of a river, and not a separate or independent stream, though sometimes used in the latter meaning. 38 N. Y. 103. In England the name arose thus: The king could not conveniently have a customer and comptroller in every port or haven; but such custom officers wpre fixed at some eminent port, and the smaller adjacent ports became by that means creeks, or appendants of that port where these custom officers were placed. 1 Chit. Com. Law, 726; Hale, de Port. Mar. pt. 2, c. 1, vol. 1, p. 46; Comyn, Dig. "Navigation" (C); Callis, Sew. 34.

Such small inlets of the sea, whether within the precinct or extent of a port or without, as are narrow passages, and have shore on either side of them. Callis, Sew. 56; 5 Taunt. 705. Such inlets that though possibly for their extent and situation they might be ports, yet are either members of or dependent upon other ports. In England the name arose thus. The king could not conveniently have a customer and comptroller in every port or haven. But such custom-officers were fixed at some eminent port; and the smaller adjacent ports became by that means creeks, or appendants of that port where these custom-officers were placed. 1 Chit. Com. Law, 726; Hale, de Portilus Maris, pt. 2, c. 1, vol. 1, p. 46; Comyns, Dig. Navigation (C); Callis, Sew. 34. A small stream, less than a river. Baker v. Boston, 12 Pick. (Mass.) 184, 22 Am. Dec. 421; Schermerhorn v. R. Co., 38 N. Y. 103. A creek passing through a deep level marsh and navigable by small craft, may, under legislative authority, be obstructed by a dam, or wholly filled up and converted into houselots, — such obstructions not being in conflict with any act of congress regulating commerce; Willson v. Marsh Co., 2 Pet. (U. S.) 245, 7 L. Ed. 412; Com. v. Charlestown, 1 Pick. (Mass.) 180, 11 Am. Dec. 161; Rowe v. Bridge Corp., 21 Pick. (Mass.) 344; Charles-

In maritime law. Such little inlets of the sea, whether within the precinct or extent of a port or without, as ure narrow passages, and have shore on either side of them, Call. Sew. 56. A small stream less than a river. 12 Pick. 184. The term imports a recess, cove, bay, or inlet in the shore of a river, and not a sepatate or independent stream; though it is sometimes used in the latter meaning. 338 N. ¥, 108.

mar. law, is defined to be a place where officers commonly are or have been placed for prevention only, and which are not in general lawful places of exportation or importation without particular license from the port or member under which they are placed. 1 Chit. Com. Law, 726; Postlewaite's Com. Dict. h. t.; and see Hale's Tract. de Portibus Maris, part 2, c. 1, vol. 1, page 46. It is, according to Lord Hale, only an inlet from the sea, or a narrow passage with the shore on each side of it, whether within the precincts or extent of a port or without, and which gives no harbours to ships, and is endowed with no privileges. Com. Dig. Navigation, C; Callis, 34.