SE DEFENDENDO (Lat.). Defending himself.
Homicide se defendendo may be justifiable.
SEA. The ocean ; the great mass of water vvhich surrounds the land, and which probably extends from pole to pole, covering nearly three-quarters of' the globe. Waters within the ebb and fiow of the tide are to be considered the sea. Gilp. Dist. Ct. 526.
A large body of salt water communicating with the ocean is also called a sea: as, the Mediterranean sea, etc.
, Very large inland bodies of salt water are also called seas: as, the Caspian sea, etc.
The open sea is public and common pro perty, and any nation or person has ordinarily an equal right to navigate it or to fish there in 1 Kent, Comm. 27 ; Tide-Waters, 44-49; 1 Bouvier, Inst. 170, 174, and to land upon the sea-shore. 1 Bouvier, Inst. 173, 174. But it is generally conceded that every nation has jurisdiction to the distance of a cannon shot, or marine league, over the waters ad jacent to its shore. 2 Cranch, 187, 234; Bynkershoek, Qu. Pub. Juris. 61 ; Vattel, 207.
Every nation has jurisdiction over the person of its own subjects in its own public and private vessels when at sea ; and so far territorial jurisdiction may be considered as preserved; for the vessels of a nation are in inany respects considered as portions of its territory, and persons on board are protected and governed by the laws of ,the country to which the veSsel belonge. The extent of 'jurisdiction over adjoining seas is often a question of difficulty, and one that is still open to controversy. As far as a nation can conveniently occupy, and that occupation is 'acquired by prior possession or treaty, the jurisdiction is exclusive. 1 Kent, Comm. 29 —31. This has been heretofore limited to the distance of a cannon-shot, or marine league, over the waters adjacent to its shore. 2 CInch, 187, 234; 1 'Chinch,— C. C. 62 ; B nkershoek, Qu. Pub. Juris. 61 ; 1 Azuni, arit. Law, 204, 185 ; Vattel, 207.