English Admiralty Jurisdiction

From Footnote 24 in U. S. v. Bevans, 16 U.S. 336 (Wheat) (1818):

Nota, Que chescun ewe, que flow et reflew est appel bras de meer ci tant aunt come el flowe.' 22 Assise, 93.

Choke, J. 'Si jeo ay terre adjoint al mere issint que le mere ebbe et flow sur ma terre, quaint il flowe chescun poet pischer en le ewe que est flow sur ma tere, car donques il est parcel de le mere, et en le mere chescun homme poit pischer de common droit.' Year Book, 8 Edw. 4. 19, a. S. C., cited 5 Co. Rep. 107 It was resolved that where the sea flows and has plenitudem maris, the admiral shall have jurisdiction of every thing done on the water between the high water mark by the natural course of the sea; yet, when the sea ebbs, the land may belong to a subject, and every thing done on the land, when the sea is ebbed, shall be tried at the common law, for it is then parcel of the county and infra corpus cometatus, and therewith agrees & Edw. 4. 19. a. So note that below the low water mark the admiral hath the sole and absolute jurisdiction; between the high water mark and low water mark, the common law and the admiral have divisum imperium, as is aforesaid, scilicet one super acquam and the other super terram.' Sir Henry Constable's case, 5 Co. Rep. 106, 107.'The place absolutely subject to the jurisdiction of the admiralty is the sea, which seemeth to comprehend public rivers, fresh waters, creeks and surrounded places whatsoever, within the ebbing and flowing of the sea at the highest water, the shores or banks adjoining, from all the first bridges sea ward, for in these the admiralty hath full jurisdiction in all causes criminal and civil, except treasons and right of wreck.' Spelman, of the Admiralty Jurisdiction, Works, 226. Ed. 1727.