Court Opinion

ID: 8635119
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 19:43:56.745745+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:54.163157
License: Public Domain

BLATCHFORD, District Judge.
The libel does not allege that the bark, when moored, was lying in contact with the canal-boat of the libellant It alleges that the bark was moored so negligently, that, at some time during the night she chafed against, or cut into, the canal-boat causing her to leak; and that the damage was caused by the negligence of those on the bark, “in that they did not take the proper precautions, nor make use of proper seamanship, in putting down fenders” between the canal-boat and the bark, and making use of proper means to keep the bark from crushing in the side of the canal-boat, and in mooring a vessel so large and heavy in the manner they did alongside of the canal-boat.
The evidence as to the character of the wound found in the side of the canal-boat, and which was under water, shows that it was such a wound as would be made by the *137pressure of a fender. The evidence also shows that there was nothing on the outer side of the bark which could have made such a wound, or any wound, in the place where the wound was except a fender. The wound was in the place on the canal-boat where a fender, put over the bark’s side in the place where the bark’s mate says he put a fender over her side, between the bark and the canal-boat, would have come. This tends to corroborate the testimony of the mate, that he •did put such a fender over. He says that, during the evening, the wind commenced blowing fresh; that, between 8 and 9 o’clock in the evening, the stem or bow of the canal-boat was driven up under the quarter of the bark; and that he put a fender over between the quarter of the bark and the canal-boat. It is true that the master of the canal-boat denies that the mate of the bark put a fender over. But, unless there was a fender there, it is impossible to see how the canal-boat was injured. If there was a fender there, it is plain that the-injury arose from the pressure of the fender. I am satisfied that there was a fender there, and that the injury was thus caused.
The presence of the fender disposes of the allegation in the libel, that the bark was negligent, in not putting down fenders. I am also satified that the libellant has pot established that there was any negligence in the manner of mooring the bark, or in respect to the precautions adopted by the bark to keep her from injuring the canal-boat. The weight of the evidence is that the bark was properly moored, and out of contact with the canal-boat; that it was the canal-boat that was allowed to move and drive against the bark and not the bark that was allowed to move and drive against the canal-boat; and that, when the canal-boat so moved, the bark did all that could be required of her, by putting out the fender and keeping it there.
The libel must be dismissed, with costs.