The Sovereignty of the Sea / An Historical Account of the Claims of England to the Dominion of the British Seas, and of the Evolution of the Territorial Waters

A historical study traces English claims to control of adjacent seas and the development of territorial waters, examining how fisheries, maritime commerce, naval honors, and jurisdictional practice shaped those claims. It follows legal doctrines introduced by the Stuart monarchy, diplomatic disputes with other seafaring powers, and later arbitration and treaty settlements that narrowed expansive assertions. The work combines archival research and documentary extracts to chart evolving state practice and international law regarding coastal fisheries, the rights of foreign fishermen, and the limits of maritime sovereignty, and argues for cooperative, evidence-based arrangements to resolve contemporary fisheries conflicts.