Posted by Ken Kurtis on November 15, 2001 at 17:26:39:
Ever wonder how the 3-mile limit for territorial waters came into being? I found out yesterday during a meeting attended by Bruce Monroe, National Board member of the Sierra Club (who relayed thre story during the course of discussion).
It seems that back in the "olden" days, when nations were discussing how far out their territories should go, a shot from a cannon would travel about three miles. So it was decided that anything within range of a cannon shot (3 miles) was considered territorial waters, and anything outside of that range was not, since you coulnd't defend it from shore.
As Paul Harvey would say, and now you know . . . the REST of the story.
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, Ca.