SEA SHORE, property. That space of land, on the border of the sea, which is alternately covered and left dry, by the rising and falling of the tide or, in other words, that space of land between high and low water mark. Hargr, Tr. 12; 6 Mass. 435, 439; 1 Pick. 180, 182; 5 Day, 22.
2. Generally, the sea shore belongs to the public. Angell on Tide Wat. 34, 5; 3 Kent's Com. 347.
3. By the Roman law, the shore included the land as far as the greatest wave extended in winter; est autem littus, maris, quatenus hibernus, fluctus maximus excurrit. Inst. lib. 2, t. 1, s. 3. Littus publicum est eatenus qua maxime fluctus exaestuat. Dig., lib, 50, t. 16, s. 112.
4. The Civil Code of Louisiana seems to have followed the law of the Insti-tutes and the Digest, for it enacts1, art. 442, that the "sea shore is that space, of land over which the waters of the sea are spread in the highest water, during the winter season." Vide. 5 Rob. Adm. R. 182; Dougl. 425; 1 Halst. R. 1; 2 Roll. Ab. 170; Dyer, 326; 5 Co. 107; Bac. Ab., Courts of Admiralty,, A; 1 Am. Law Mag. 76; 16 Pet. R. 234, 367 Ang. on Tide Waters, Index, tit. Shore; 2 Bligh's N, S. 146; 5 M. & W. 327 Merl. Quest. de Droit, mots Rivage de la Mer; Inst. 2, 1, 2; 22 Maine, R. 350. For the law of Mass. vide Dane's Ab. c. 68, a 3, 4.
SEA WEED. A species of grass which grows in the sea.
2. When cast upon land, it belongs to the owner of the land adjoining the sea shore; upon the grounds, that it increases gradually, that it is useful as manure2 and a protection to the ground, and that it is some compensation for the encroachments of the sea upon the land. 2 John. R. 313, 323. Vide 5 Verm. R. 223.
3. The French differs from our law in this respect, as sea weeds there, when cast on the beach, belong to the first occupant. Dall. Dict. Propriete, art. 3, §2, n. 128.
SEA WORTHINESS3, mer. law. The ability of a ship or other vessel4 to make a sea voyage with probable safety: there is, in every insurance, whether on ship or goods, an implied warranty5 that the ship shall be worthy6 when she sails on the voyage insured; that is, that she shall be "tight, staunch, and strong, properly manned, provided with all necessary stores, and in all respects fit for the intended voyage." Marsh7. Ins. 153 2 Phil. Ev. 60 10 Johns. R. 58.
2. The following rules have been established in regard, to the warranty of sea-worthiness.
3. - 1. That it is of no consequence whether the insured was aware of the condition of the ship, or not. His innocence8 or ignorance is no answer to the fact that the ship was not sea-worthy.
4. - 2. - The opinion of carpenters who have repaired the vessel, however they may strengthen the presumption9 that the ship is sea-worthy, when it is favorable, is not conclusive10 of the fact of sea-worthiness. 4 Dow's Rep. 269.
5. - 3. The presumption, prima facie, is for sea-worthiness. 1 Dow's R. 336; And it is presumed that a vessel continues sea-worthy, if she was so at the inception11 of the risk. 20 Pick. 389. See 1 Brev. 252.
6. - 4. Any sort of disrepair left in the ship, by which she, or the cargo12 may suffer, is a breach13 of the warranty of sea-worthiness.
7. - 5. A deficiency of force in the crew, or of skill in the master, mate, &c., is a want of sea-worthiness. 1 Campb. 1; 14 East, R. 481. But if there was once a sufficient crew, their temporary absence will not be considered a breach of the warranty. 2 Barn. & Ald. 73; 1 John. Cas. 184; 1 Pet. 183.
8. - 6. A vessel may be rendered not sea-worthy by being overloaded14. 2 Barn. & Ald . 320.
9. - 7. When the sea-worthiness arises from justifiable15 ignorance of the cause of the defect, and is discovered and remedied before any injury occurs, it is not to be considered as a defect. Ib. See, generally, 2 John. 124, 129; 3 John. Cas. 76; 1 John. 241; 1 Caines, 217 3 S. & R. 25 1 Whart. 399.
10. By an act of congress, approved July 20, 1840, as amended16, by the act of July 29, 1850, it is provided, that if the first officer, (or a second and third officer,) and a majority of the crew of any vessel, shall make complaint in writing that she is in an unsuitable condition to go to sea, because she is leaky, or insufficiently18 supplied with sails, rigging, anchors, or any other equipment, or that the crew is insufficient17 to man her, or that her provisions, stores, and supplies are not, or have not been, during the voyage, sufficient and wholesome19, thereupon, in any of these or like cases, the consul20 or commercial agent who may discharge any duties of a consul shall appoint two disinterested21, competent, practical men, acquainted with maritime22 affairs, to examine into the causes of complaint, who shall, in their report, state what defects and deficiencies, if any they find to be well founded, as well as what, in their judgment23 ought to be done, to put the vessel in order for the continuance of her voyage.
SEAL, conveyancing, contracts. A seal is an impression upon wax, wafer, or some other tenacious24 substance capable of being impressed. 5 Johns. R. 239. Lord Coke defines a seal to be wax, with an impression. 3 Inst. 169. " Sigillum," says he, "est cera impressa, quia cera sine impressione non est sigillum." This is the common law definition of a seal. Perk25. 129, 134; Bro. tit. Faits, 17, 30; 2 Leon 21; 5 John. 239; 2 Caines, R. 362; 21 Pick. R. 417.
2. But in Pennsylvania, New Jersey26, and the southern and western states generally, the impression upon wax has been disused, and a circular, oval, or square mark, opposite the name of the signer, has the same effect as a seal the shape of it however is indifferent; and it is usually written with a pen. 2 Serg. & Rawle, 503; 1 Dall. 63; 1 Serg. & Rawle, 72; 1 Watts27, R. 322; 2 Halst. R. 272.
3. A notary28 must use his official seal, to authenticate29 his official acts, and a scroll30 will not answer. 4 Blackf. R. 185. As to the effects of a seal, vide Phil. Ev. Index, h. t. Vide, generally, 13 Vin. Ab. 19; 4 Kent, Com. 444; 7 Caines' Cas. 1; Com. Dig. Fait, A 2.
4. Merlin defines a real to be a plate of metal with a flat surface, on which is engraved31 the arms of a prince or nation, or private individual or other device, with which an impression may be made on wax or other substance on paper or parchment, in order to authenticate them: the impression thus made is also called a seal. Repert. mot Sceau; 3 McCord's R. 583; 5 Whart. R. 563.
5. When a seal is affixed32 to an instrument, it makes it a specialty33, (q. v.) and whether the seal be affixed by a corporation or an individual the effect is the same. 15 Wend. 256.
6. Where an instrument concludes with the words, "witness our hands and seals," and is signed by two persons, with only one seal, the jury may infer, from the face of the paper, that the person who signed last, adopted the seal of the first. 6 Penn. St. Rep. 302. Vide 9 Am Jur. 290-297; 1 Ohio Rep. 368; 3 John. 470. 12 ohu. 76; as to the origin and use of seals, Addis. on Cont. 6; Scroll.
7. The public seal of a foreign state, proves itself; and public acts, decrees and judgments34, exemplified under this seal, are received as true and genuine. 2 Cranch, 187, 238; 4 Dall. 416; 7 Wheat. 273, 335; 1 Denio, 376; 2 Conn. 85, 90; 6 Wend. 475; 9 Mod. 66. But to entitle its seal to such authority, the foreign state must have been acknowledged by the government, within whose jurisdiction35 the forum36 is located. 3 Wheat. 610; 9 Ves. 347.
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