Like many questions which the police were obliged to put, these were a formality, it being clear that the bargeowners couldn't answer them.
the mooring-ropes were in better case than the anchors
It could only be hoped that the mooring-ropes were in better case than the anchors.
Like many questions which the police were obliged to put, these were a formality, it being clear that the bargeowners couldn't answer them.</s>It could only be hoped that the mooring-ropes were in better case than the anchors.</s>the mooring-ropes were in better case than the anchors