Court Opinion

ID: 8635056
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 19:43:51.261062+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:54.100111
License: Public Domain

NELSON, Circuit Justice.
The casks of oil, in this ease, were of various sizes, containing from eighty to three hundred gallons each. The propeller encountered, on the voyage, an unusually violent storm, which fully accounts for the damage within the exception in the bill of lading, and throws the onus on the shippers, to establish carelessness or negligence on the part of the master or owners of the vessel, leading to the particular loss. This they have attempted to do, by charging, first, that the casks were badly stowed, and, secondly, that they were stowed between decks, when they should have been stowed in the hold.
As appears from the proofs, a large portion of the hold of such a propeller as this one was, is used for her engines, water, boilers, coal, &c., although there is some space left for freight; but much the greater part of the freight is carried between decks, or on the main deck, as it is called. This deck is constructed specially for the purpose of carrying freight. It is bulwarked entirely around, and covered by the upper deck, and is as completely protected from the weather and from storms, as if it "were the hold; and freight can be stowed in it as securely as in the hold. It may, perhaps, require more care in the stowage of casks, and of packages of that description, to ptevent their rolling in stormy weather, than if they were in the hold, the tendency to disturb the cargo upon this deck be-' ing greater than when it is below. I concur, therefore, with the-court below, that no fault is chargeable to the vessel, in stowing the oil in the between decks.
There is much conflict of evidence In the case, on the subject of the proper stowage of 'the casks — much more than should be expected from the intelligent shipmasters, and other experts, who have been examined; but, in this conflict, I am not disposed to overrule the conclusion of the learned judge below, who has examined the case with great care and attention on both of the points to which I have referred. Decree affirmed.