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§ 17. The following are declared to be naval ports:

a. The port of Venice, and also the expanse of sea lying within cannon shot range from fort Brondolo to the lighthouse of Piave.

1881, March 23.-Order of the Minister of Finance, establishing a customs zone of four marine miles.1

ARTICLE 2. All national and foreign ships coming from abroad and destined for a native harbor, and, in general, all vessels which approach the customs zone to a distance of four marine miles, unless forced there by uncontrollable circumstances, must be furnished with a manifest.

1901, March 1.-Rules regarding the conduct of vessels of commerce when they meet vessels of war or when they are moored before Austro-Hungarian fortifications.2

I. Ruling of March 1, 1901, decreed by the Minister of Commerce regarding the conduct of merchant vessels and yachts when they meet vessels of war or when they are moored before fortifications.

1. Austrian vessels of commerce should hoist their flag whenever they meet a vessel of war which is displaying its flag.-The same obligation rests upon foreign vessels of commerce in territorial waters.

2. Austrian and foreign vessels of commerce should hoist their flag, when they are at anchor or moving in their course within three marine miles of a fortification on the coast of Austria or Hungary from which a flag is displayed.

3. Austrian vessels of commerce should hoist their flag in foreign territorial waters at least three miles from the coast whenever they meet a vessel of war of the State situated on said coast, which is displaying its flag, or whenever they are at anchor or moving in their course before fortifications from which a flag is displayed.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY3

1891, December 6.—Treaty of commerce and navigation with Italy, whereby the two countries agree to reserve. exclusively to the inhabitants of the coast coral and sponge fishing to a distance of one nautical mile.*

1 Translation. For the original text, see Reichsgesetzblatt, vol. for 1881, p. 109.

2 Translation. For the French and German texts, see Rerue générale de droit international public, vol. 20, doc., p. 53; Martens, Nouveau recueil général de traités, 3d series, vol. 4, p. 152; Oesterreichisches Reichsgesetzblatt, 1901, No. 8.

3 See also Austria, ante, p. 509.

See post, p. 599.

BELGIUM

1662.—Amended treaty of peace between the Federated States of · Belgium and the Kingdom of Algiers.1

IV. Ships of the afore-mentioned lordly estates shall not be visited. In case, however, the suspicion arises that the sailors and officials do not own those of the said ships which went out on the high seas to meet ships which had been sent out and were cruising about over the seas-being either private Algerian ships or subject to the jurisdic-. tion of Algiers said ships, upon their return from Algiers, in order to avoid all confusion, should come to at a distance at which a ship could be struck by cannon shot. But they shall have power to send their light boats and skiffs to the shores of the canals of the praiseworthy subjects of the lordly estates, provided, however, that only two or three men go together to have their passage and marine letters examined.

1832, June 7-Law providing for the establishing of a single cus

toms zone.2

ARTICLE 1..

The executive power shall trace, before the 25th of June, next, the course of a new customs line, at a distance of more than one myriameter from the extreme land frontier and of one-half myriameter from the sea-coast.

Extending from the coast for the distance of one myriameter into the sea, there shall be a surveillance determined by the two following articles.

1891, June 24.-Treaty of commerce and navigation with Egypt.3

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XII. . In case of suspicions of contraband, the Egyptian customs officers may board and seize any Belgian vessel of less than two hundred tons burden outside the waters of an Egyptian port or navigating within a radius of ten kilometers of the shore; besides, any Belgian vessel of less than two hundred tons burden may be boarded and seized beyond that distance if the pursuit has been commenced within a radius of ten kilometers of the coast.

1 Translation. For the original text see Dumont, Corps universel diplomatique du droit des gens, Amsterdam, 1728, vol. 6, pt. 2, p. 445.

2 Translation. For the original text see Code des contributions directes, douanes et accises de la Belgique en vigueur au 1er août, 1852, p. 621.

Translation. For the French text, see British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 84,

p. 154.

1891, August 19.-Law prohibiting foreign vessels from fishing in Belgian territorial waters.1

ARTICLE 1. In conformity with the stipulations of Arts. II and III of the international convention concluded at The Hague on the 6th of May, 1882, approved by the law of January 6th, 1884, fishing, whether carried on from the vessel or from her detached boat, is for the future forbidden to every foreign vessel, within the distance of three geographical miles of 60 to the degree of latitude, reckoned from low-water mark, along the whole extent of the Belgian coast.

CHILE

The civil code.2

ARTICLE 593. The contiguous sea to the distance of a marine league counted from the low-water line is a territorial sea appertaining to the national domain; but the right of police, in all matters concerning the security of the country and the observance of the customs laws, extends to the distance of 4 marine leagues counted in the same manner.

1914. November 5-Decree of the Government of Chile as to what should be considered the jurisdictional waters of Chile in reference to neutrality.3

Considering that, although it is true that the laws of the Republic have determined the limits of the territorial sea and of the national domain, and the distance to which extend the rights of police in all matters concerning the security of the country and the observance of customs laws, they have not fixed the maritime zone in reference to the safeguarding of the rights and the accomplishment of the duties. relative to the neutrality declared by the Government in case of international conflicts; and that it is oper for sovereign states to fix this zone:

It is decreed:

The contiguous sea, up to a distance of 3 marine miles counted from the low-water line is considered as the jurisdictional or neutral sea on the coasts of the Republic for the safeguarding of the rights and the accomplishment of the duties relative to the neutrality declared by the Government in case of international conflicts.

Translation.

Hertslet. Commercial Treaties, vol. 19, p. 115.

2 U. S. Naval War College, International Law Topics, 1916, p. 19, note.
8 Ibid., p. 19; Revue générale de droit international public, vol. 23, doc., p. 11.

1914, December 15-Decree of the Government of Chile as to what should be considered as a jurisdictional sea in the southern part of Chile, especially in the Strait of Magellan.1

Considering that the Strait of Magellan as well as the canals of the southern region lie within the international limits of Chile, and consequently form part of the territory of the Republic,

It is decreed:

In reference to the neutrality established in the decree No. 1857 of November 5 last of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the interior waters of the Strait of Magellan and the canals of the southern region, even in the parts which are distant more than 3 miles from either bank, should be considered as forming part of the jurisdictional or neutral sea.

CHINA

1899, December 14.-Treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation with Mexico, by which the extent of the marginal sea is considered as three marine leagues measured from the line of low tide."

DENMARK3

1598, May 10.-Ordinance establishing two Norwegian leagues as a neutral zone.1

If any English vessels, contrary to the orders of the king, are found hovering and fishing in the waters between Vespenø and Iceland, or two Norwegian leagues (uker sjøs3) northeast from Vespenø, make all haste possible to capture them and bring them to Copenhagen.

1 U. S. Naval War College, International Law Topics, 1916, p. 21; Revue générale de droit international public, vol. 23, doc., p. 13.

2 See post, p. 605.

* See also Denmark and Norway, post, p. 517.

• Translation. For the Norwegian text, see Arnold Ræstad, Kongens strømme, p. 195. 5 Ræstad's definition of mil and uke 8jos: two main interpretations of the word mil have been recognized from the Middle Ages: The Italian marine mil, which, according to the computations of Wagner, Stegers, and Kretschmers, is shorter than the Roman league, about 1,200 to 1,250, or probably 1,300 meters, and the Spanish legua, French lieue, and the English league, which are about four times the length of the Italian marine mil, or about 5,500 meters. These designations, mille and lieue, mile and league, are often confused in literature. Besides these, Behrmann claims he can prove a third, the Low German mil, of 6,600 meters. The question is hereby raised as to whether this Low German mil has sprung from the Northern (Norwegian-Swedish-Danish) measure of length, vika sjóvar, which originally seems to have equalled about 9 km. (later, 12 uker sjøs equalled 1 degree or 72,916 paces or 33 feet, Roman measure), but which later, in the 16th century, came to be considered as 7 or 8 km. One uke sjøs became interpreted in the 17th century, in Dano-Norwegian, as one league (mil), one marine league, one old marine league, and is the same as one geographical league (7,420 m.). Ræstad, ibid. p. 186.

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1631, December 13.-Declaration of Christian IV to Charles I.1

We do not doubt that Your Majesty knows we have willingly permitted Your Majesty's subjects, for the time being, to fish along the coasts of our islands, Iceland and Vespenø, providing they always remain at a distance of six Norwegian leagues (uker sjøs3) from the coast. Therefore, I recommend Your Majesty .. to warn your subjects to carry on fishing at a distance of at least six leagues from the main coast.

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1636, April 16.—Licence granted to the Iceland Whaling Company, and ordinance dealing with prize regulations to a distance of four old Norwegian marine miles (mil) or six leagues.3

1643, April 21.—Letters patent.*

All cruisers or fishing vessels, by whatsoever name designated, which do not belong to our privileged subjects, or to the old English or United Provinces Company possessing our octroi and license, are hereby solemnly bidden not to presume or venture within ten leagues (mil) of our land at Christianberg, set aside for whaling, with intent to hunt or disturb whales.

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1682, May 13.-Manifesto regarding the management of the trade and fishing along Iceland and the Færø group.

ARTICLE 2. It shall be lawful for said company alone to trade, buy, and sell in Iceland, the Færø group, and the other small outlying ports and bays, as well as to fish within a distance of four Norwegian leagues (mil) from the coasts. . . .

1691, June 13.-King's order in council, regarding maritime prizes.

If our cruising frigates encounter any man of war or privateer from any of the belligerents, that might have been captured in Nessed or Rifved, or within sight of our coasts, which is computed as four or five leagues (mil) from the outlying rocks, they shall courteously demand their freedom, considering them as invalid captures.

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1 Translation. For the Norwegian text, see Arnold Ræstad, Kongens strømme, p. 215. 2 See footnote 5, ante, p. 513.

3 Stephensen and Sigurdson, Lovsamling for Island, Copenhagen, 1853, vol. 1, p. 220. Translation. For the Norwegian text, see Ræstad, ibid., p. 225.

Translation. For the Danish text, see Stephensen and Sigurdson, ibid., vol. 3, p. 388; Ræstad, ibid., p. 236.

• One Norwegian league (mil) was at that time a little more than five English miles, 1. e., a little less than 8 km. See footnote 5, ante, p. 513.

Translation. For the Norwegian text, see Ræstad, ibid., p. 246.

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