Huck Finn, criminal

In the case of Normal Parm v. Sheriff Mark Shumate, James ruled that federal law grants exclusive and private control over the waters of the [Mississippi] river, outside the main shipping channel, to riparian landowners. The shallows of the navigable waters are no longer open to the public. That, in effect, makes boating illegal across most of the country.

But...but...it's taking property out of the commons and assigning it to private owners! Some kinds of libertoonians tell me that's GOOD!

Now, who will be the first to mine their waters to keep out jet skis? I want to see that. Roarrrrrrr.....BOOM!

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Posted by: jeffrey smith
Posted on: September 19, 2006 05:56 PM

I think this would apply only to bodies of water, like the Mississipi and Ohio, that lie between two states. Bodies of water that lie entirely inside one state would have to be adjudicated according to that state's laws, possibly with a different result.

Besides, if you want to keep your boat afloat, don't you try to keep it OUT of the shallows?

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