In the case The Daniel Ball, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the ruling that the transportation of goods on navigable waters between states is tantamount to commerce and is therefore under the authority of Congress under the commerce clause. The steamship the Daniel Ball was found operating without a license on the Grand River in violation of a congressional act requiring licenses for the operation of steamships on bays, lakes, rivers and other navigable waters. The owner of the ship argued that the ship was not engaged in commerce, merely transportation, but the Court finds that there is no clear distinction to be made between commerce and the transportation of goods intended for commerce.