SEA-SHORE, or land bordering on the sea, belongs partly to the crown, and the public have certain rights in relation thereto. The soil or property in the sea-shore is vested in the crown, and the limit on the land side is defined to he the medium line of high-water of all the tides in the course of the year, or the height of the medium tides in each quarter of a lunar revolution during the whole year. But though the crown is prima, facie the owner of the sea-shore, the owner of the adjoining manor has some times a grant of it, and he proves this grant by ancient use—such as gathering sea-weed, etc. The public have a right to walk on that part of the shore vested in the crown, which holds it as a trustee for them. But the public have no right to trespass on the adjacent lands in order to get at the shore, so that it is only where a highway leads to the shore, or the public land from seaward, that the right can be made available. Thus it has been decided that the public have no legal right to trespass on the adjbining lands in.order to get to the shore for purpose of bathing. The public have a right to fish
on the sea-shore if they get legal access to it, and may take all floating fish, but not oysters or mussels which adhere to the rock, if the soil belongs to nn individual. The public have no right to gather sea-weed or shells, though, as regards the latter, it is of so little consequence that nobody prevents them. Nor have fishermen a right to go on that part of the sea-shore which is private property to dig sand for ballast, or to dry their nets, or similar purposes, though in a few eases local customs permitting this have. been held valid. In Scotland the right to the sea-shore is also 'bested in the crown, but when a crown grant gives land bounded by the sea-shore, this is held to give to the granted the fore-shore also.