State California GC Sec 23070-23077 Counties boundaries GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 23070-23077 23070. The terms and definitions contained in this article apply to the boundary descriptions of the several counties, unless otherwise declared. 23071. In describing courses, "north," "south," "east," and "west," mean true courses, and refer to the true meridian. 23072. "Northerly," "southerly," "easterly," and "westerly," mean due north, due south, due east, and due west, unless controlled by other words, or by lines, monuments, or natural objects. 23073. "To," "on," "along," "with," or "by" a mountain or ridge, mean summit point or summit line. 23074. "To," "by," "along," "with," "in," "up," or "down" a creek, river, slough, strait, or bay, mean the middle of the main channel thereof. 23075. "In," "to," or "from" the ocean shore mean a point three miles seaward from the shore. "Along," "with," "by," or "on" the ocean shore, mean on a line parallel with and three miles seaward from the shore. 23076. The mouth of a creek, river, or slough which empties into another creek, river, or slough, is the point where the middle of the channels intersect. 23077. The use of a county name specified in this division, without further description, is a reference to the county of that name.