Court Opinion

ID: 8122827
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 15:01:44.309651+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:39:05.123126
License: Public Domain

Blodgett, D. J.
This is a libel by the owners of the schooner Melvina against the respondent, as underwriter on the hull of the schooner, for a general average claim by reason of the jettison of a quantity of pig iron from the deck of the schooner.
The material facts as they appear in the record are:
That on the eighth of November, 1880, the schooner Melvina took on board at Elk Kapids, Michigan, a cargo of pig iron for the port of Chicago, about 406 tons of which was stowed under deck, and about 61 tons, with the consent and knowledge of the shipper, was stowed on deck. The schooner was in all respects sea-worthy and properly manned when she commenced her voyage from Elk Bapids for Chicago. The weather was stormy and cold, and she was compelled to take refuge for several days in the harbor of Ludington, and while there snow and sleet fell almost continually. On the twenty-third of November she left Ludington in a sea-worthy condition, and properly manned, in prosecution of her voyage to Chicago. During the night of the 23d it became very cold, and a severe wind and snow storm set in, and the vessel became loaded with ice. The tiers of iron piled along the deck were drifted full of snow and ice, so that the water which came on board did not run off freely through the scuppers, and the vessel was in danger of foundering; and to save the lives of her crew, the vessel, and her cargo below deck, her deck load was jettisoned. Thus relieved the schooner rode out the storm in safety, and made her port of destination with the remainder of the cargo, where due protest and notice for general average was made.
The Manhattan Insurance Company, respondent in this case, had issued a policy upon the hull, tackle, apparel, and furniture of the schooner for the sum *161oí S3,000, insuring the schooner against the perils of navigation, jettison, etc., which policy was then in force; and the amount charged against this policy by the adjuster in making the general average was $293.39, which the respondent, after duo notice and demand, refused to pay.
The proof also shows without contradiction that it is usual and customary for vessels engaged in carrying pig iron on these lakes to stow a portion of the cargo on deck, Cor the reason that it “ makes the vessel work easier in the sea and without straining;” the proof tending to show that where the entire cargo consists of iron about 15 per cent, is loaded on deck. The proof also shows, and without contradiction, that the iron in question was properly stowed upon the deck, being piled in tiers next the bulwarks.
The respondent denies its liability — First, because the peril which made the jettison necessary was occasioned by the choking of the scuppers by snow and ice which gathered on and among the iron by reason of its improper stowage; second, because the insurer of the hull is not liable to general average for a jettison of the deck load; third, because the policy provides that “in case of loss the adjustment shall be made according to the usage and rules of the ports of Yew York, and by an experienced adjuster to be selected by the underwriter;” and it is admitted, by stipulation filed in this ease, that by the usage of underwriters of the port of New York “the loss of a deck load would not be adjusted as a general average loss.”
As to the first of these points it is sufficient to say that the libel-lant’s proof shows that the cargo put on deck was properly stowed on deck, and the respondent has offered no proof to show that it could have been stowed in any better or safer manner there. The validity of this objection, it seems to me, must depend on whether the iron was rightfully stowed at all on deck. If it was rightfully there, the proof seems to show that it was properly placed; that is, it is not shown to have been in a wrong or improper place on deck. The proof docs not show that it was alone the clogging of the scuppers by snow and ice among the iron that had weighted the vessel down, so that she would not rise to the sea, and was in danger of foundering, but her whole rigging and hull were loaded with ice as well as her deck. It is likely that the closing of the scuppers increased the accumulation of ice; but I conclude from the proof that if the scuppers had been free there would still have been a large quantity of ice on the vessel, and a necessity for throwing off the deck load to save her from foundering. Indeed, from the proof I think it probable that it was fortunate for all on board of this vessel, and all interested in her hull and cargo, that she liad a portion of her cargo on deck, where it could be promptly jettisoned, and that had the whole cargo been below deck the vessel would probably have foundered before enough of the cargo could have been got overboard to relieve her.
*162As to the second point, that the insurer of the hull is not liable to general average for a jettison of deck load, the question has been so ably and thoroughly examined and discussed, in the light of the authorities in the report of the commissioner, that I do not deem it necessary to do more than state that I concur in his conclusions. It is true, there would seem at the first glance to be some conflict of authority upon this point, but after a careful examination of the cases cited by the commissioner, and by the proctors in their briefs, I think the rule fairly deducible from the modern cases is that the underwriter upon the hull is liable to contribute to general average for jettison of the deck load, when the custom or usage of the trade in which the vessel is employed is to carry part of her cargo on deck.
In 1 Parsons, Shipp. & Adm. 354, it is said:
“ The rale that the jettison of goods carried on deck gives no claim for contribution, is founded upon the reason that they ought not to he there. Whenever it is proper to carry the goods on deck it might seem to be proper that the voluntary sacrifice of them should be contributed for. The propriety of so carrying them should be determined in any case, we think, by custom.”
On page 356 of the same work the author says:
“ We apprehend the rule should be that whenever, from the peculiar nature of the goods or of the voyage, or, in fact, for any reason, a custom exists to carry goods on deck, and this custom was well established and known, it would bind all the parties interested.”
The insurance in this case was for the season, the policy running as a marine risk from the first of April to November 30th 1 and the schooner was to be employed in the freight and passenger business in the-waters, bays, harbors, rivers, canals, and other tributaries of Lakes Superior, Michigan, St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario. It is a necessarily-implied part of this contract of insurance that, in the conduct of her business, she would conform to the usages of the trade in which she was engaged.
In Petty v. Royal Exchange Ass'n Co. 1 Burr. 341, Lord Mansfield said:
‘‘ The insurer, in estimating the price at which he is willing to indemnify the trader against all risks, must have under his consideration the nature of the voyage to be performed, and the usual course and manner of doing it. Everything done in the usual course must have been foreseen and in contemplation at the time he engaged. He took the risk upon the supposition that what was usual or necessary would be done. * * * And in general what is usually done by such a ship with such a cargo in such a voyage is understood to be referred to by every policy, and to make a part of it as much as if it was expressed.”
*163It being clear, then, that it was an established usage to carry part of a cargo like this upon deck, and that it was deemed not only convenient but prudent to do so, the court must, assume that this underwriter intended or contemplated that part of a cargo like this would be stowed on deck, and assumed all the dangers and advantages of such usage.
It is urged by the learned proctors for the respondent that the usage must not only extend to the carrying of cargo on deck, but also a custom of the underwriters to contribute by general average for a cargo so carried must be established. But I do not think the custom of the underwriters to pay can be considered, as in any respect controlling or modifying tho rule as laid down. The underwriter must adjust himself to the custom of the trade which he insures, and the mere fact that the underwriter refuses to pay can have no bearing upon the question of his obligation and liability. He insures the vessel to engage in the trade in which she is to be employed according to the usual methods in which that trade is conducted, and must be presumed to have understood and contemplated the ordinary usages of loading and stowing cargo.
As to the third point, that the respondent is not liable because the policy provides that it is “subject to the usages and regulations of the ports of New York on all matters of adjustment and settlement of losses not herein otherwise clearly specified and provided for, to be stated by a competent adjuster of marine losses designated by the insurers.” By a stipulation filed in the case it is admitted that according to the usage of the port of New York the loss of a deck load would not be adjusted as a general average loss. This clause I construe only to refer to tho manner of making the adjustment when a liability exists, or is admitted, and does not control the question of the extent of the liability of the underwriter upon his contract.
This clause does not inject into this contract tho usage of tho port of New York as to the liability of tho insurer to contribute for jettison of deck load, for that must be settled by the usage of the trade in which the ship insured was to bo employed; but the office of this clause is to make the rule of distributing the loss among those liable to a general average contribution such as is used in the “ports of New York,” which I think includes not alone the port of New York city, but all the ports of the state of New York, including Buffalo and Oswego and other lake ports, as well as New York city.
*164The extent of tbe underwriter’s liability on tbis policy is a question of law under tbe facts, and is not to be settled by tbe rules of adjustment in any particular locality. So, too, as to tbe suggestion that tbe underwriter bad tbe right to name tbe adjuster to make this general'average adjustment. The proof shows that tbe respondents bad ample notice of tbe loss, and if they bad claimed tbe right to appoint or select an adjuster, we must presume it would have been conceded to them; but they having neglected or refused to designate an adjuster, this objection, that tbe adjuster who made tbe general average was not designated by them, comes to late.
I conclude, then, from tbe authorities which I have examined and the facts in the case, that there can be no doubt of tbe liability of this respondent to contribute upon this general average account. Tbe jettison was made for the interest of all concerned. There can be no doubt under the proof that by tbis jettison the bull upon which tbis policy rested, and the remainder of tbe cargo, as well as the lives of tbe crew, were saved; and I can see no reason why those who are interested in tbe hull as underwriters should not contribute their pro rata towards paying for a proper sacrifice for the common good.
There is a further view of this ease which it seems to me may help us by illustration in arriving a,t a correct conclusion. The policy provides that the underwriter “shall not be liable in cases of loss or damage by reason of tbe incompetency of tbe master or insufficiency of the crew, or want of due care and skill in navigating tbe vessel, and in loading, stowing, and securing the cargo of the vessel-,” it being an established or conceded fact that stowage of a portion of a cargo of this kind on deck is necessary or prudent for the purpose of securing the easy and safe management of tbe vessel. Suppose this entire cargo had been stowed below deck and a total loss bad occurred in the storm when this jettison was made, could not these respondents have successfully resisted payment upon its policy on the ground that due skill and ordinary care had not been used in the stowing of tbe cargo, and that as a measure of safety a portion of thiq cargo should have been stowed upon the deck, both for the reason that it balanced or trimmed the vessel so as to make her sail better and ride tbe seas easier, and the further fact that a jettison, if necessary, could be more promptly made ?
It seems to me, at least, if this cargo had all been stowed below decks, and the vessel bad been lost, it is more than probable that tbe payment of the policy would have been resisted, and perhaps successfully, upon the ground of improper stowage.