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.