high seas
Defined in 8 dictionaries — Case Law, U.S. Code, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Bouvier (1839)
Definitions from Case Law
From 274 U.S. 501 - Maul v. United States · 1927Most cited · 226 citing opinions
The high sea is common to all nations and foreign to none; and every nation having vessels there has power to regulate them and also to seize them for a violation of its laws.
United States Code
16 U.S.C. § 1802 — as used in this chapter
The term “high seas” means all waters beyond the territorial sea of the United States and beyond any foreign nation's territorial sea, to the extent that such sea is recognized by the United States.
16 U.S.C. § 5502 — as used in this chapter
The term “high seas” means the waters beyond the territorial sea or exclusive economic zone (or the equivalent) of any nation, to the extent that such territorial sea or exclusive economic zone (or the equivalent) is recognized by the United States.
33 U.S.C. § 1601 — for the purposes of this chapter
“high seas” means all parts of the sea that are not included in the territorial sea or in the internal waters of any nation.
42 U.S.C. § 9102 — as used in this chapter
“high seas” means that part of the oceans lying seaward of the territorial sea of the United States and outside the territorial sea, as recognized by the United States, of any other nation;
46 U.S.C. § 8304 — in this section
In this section, “high seas” means waters seaward of the Boundary Line.
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
The uninclosed waters of the ocean, and also those waters on the seacoast which are without the boundaries of low-water mark. 1 Gall. ' (U. S.) 624; 1 Mason (U. S.) 360; 5 Mason (U. S.) 290; 1 Bl. Comm. 110; 2 Hagg. Adm. 398; Dunl. Adm. Prac. 32, 33. Cas. No. 14,509), but not in a landlocked haven (4 Mason [U. S.] 307; 5 Mason [U. S.] 290; 3 Blatchf. [U. S.] 435). The open waters of the great lakes are "high seas" (150 U. S. 249), but the waters of an inland river flowing into the great lakes are not (7 Mich. 161).
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
The unlnclosed waters of the ocean, and also those waters on the seacoast which are without the boundaries of low-water mark. U. S. v. Ross, 1 Gall. 624, Fed. Cas. No. 16,196; U. S. v. Grush, 5 Mas. Ci C. 290, Fed. Cas. No. 15,268; 1 Bla. Com. 110; Bened. Adm.; 2 Hagg. Adm. 398. EJnclosed water on the sea coast and without the boundaries of low water mark. U. S. V. Imp. Co., 17^ Fed, 426. The terms “high sea’’ and “main sea” are synonymous; id. The act of congress of April 30, 1790, a 8, enacts that if any person shall commit upon the higk seas, or in any river, haven, basin, or bay, out of the Jurisdiction of any particular state, murder, etc., which if committed within the body of a county would, by the laws of the United States, be punishable with death, every such offender, being thereof convicted, shall suffer death; and the trial of crimes committed on the high seas, or in any place out of the jurisdiction of any particular state, shall be in the district where the offender is apprehended, or into which he may first be brought See U. S. v. Mc Gill, 4 Dali. (U. S.) 426, 1 L. Ed. 894; U. S. v. Wiltberger, 3 Wash, 0. C. 515, Fed. Cas. No. 16,738; U. S. V. Smith, 1 Mas. 147, Fed. Cas. No. 16,337;
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
The ocean ; public waters. According to the English doctrine, the high sea begins at the distance of three miles from the coast of any country; according to the American view, at low-water mark, except in the case of small harbors and roadsteads inclosed within the fauces terræ. Ross v. McIntyre, 140 U. S. 453, 11 Sup. Ct. 807, 35 In Ed. 581; U. S. v. Grush, 26 Fed. Cas. 50; U. S. v. Rodgers, 150 U. S. 249, 14 Sup. Ct. 109, 37 L. Ed. 1071; Ex parte Byers (D. Ct) 32 Fed. 405. The open ocean outside of the fauces terræ, as distinguished from arms of the sea; the waters of the ocean without the boundary of any county. Any waters on the sea-coast which are without the boundaries of tow-water mark.
Defined under Sea in Black's Law Dictionary.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
Theocean; public waters. Aceording tothe English doctrine, the high sea begins at the distanceof three miles from the coast of any country; according to the American view, ab low-water mark, except in the case of small harbors and roadsteads inclosed within the fauces ferre. The open ocean outside of the fauces terre, as distinguished from arms of the sea; the waters of the ocean without the boundary of any county. Any waters on the sea-coast which are without the boundaries of low-water mark.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
John Bouvier · 1839
This term, which is frequently used in the laws of the United States, signifies the unenclosed waters of the ocean on the sea coast which are without the boundaries of low water mark. 1 Gall. R. 624; 5 Mason’s R. 290. The act of congress of 30th of April, 1790, s. 8, 1 Story’s L. U. S. 84, enacts that if any person shall commit upon the high seas, or in any river, haven, basin, or bay, out of the jurisdiction of any particular state, murder, &c. which, if committed within the body of a county would, by the laws of the United States be punishable with death, every such offender, being thereof convicted, shall suffer death; and the trial of crimes committed on the high seas, or in any place out of the jurisdiction of any particular state, shall be in the district where the offender is apprehended, or into which he may first be brought. See 4 Dall. R. 426; 3 Wheat. R. 336; 5 Wheat. R. 184, 412; 3W.C.C. R. 515; Serg. Const. Law, 334.