This rule excluded the Great Lakes from the admiralty jurisdiction of the federal courts.
Law suits brought for the breach of an obligation under a charter party are generally within the admiralty jurisdiction.
If, however, a charter breach creates a maritime lien, the suit is in rem, against the vessel itself, with exclusive admiralty jurisdiction.
The grant of federal admiralty jurisdiction was not intended to limit the states from establishing separate and independent systems of law in maritime matters.
If a successful challenge to a criminal prosecution under admiralty jurisdiction were to be made, the matter would be dismissed before any plea could be entered.
Numerous federal, and some states, define navigability for various purposes from admiralty jurisdiction to pollution control,and from property boundaries to the licencing of dams.
However, the British authorities did not transfer the admiralty jurisdiction of the vice admiralty court to that new court.
Normally, a maritime lien relates to the different marine transactions in the admiralty jurisdiction and creates the maritime claims.
Although there is a list recognized by the admiralty jurisdiction, the definitions and criteria are not the same under the maritime law of differing jurisdictions.
It subsequently was conferred admiralty jurisdiction in 1891.