аfter stating the case, delivered the opinion of the court. . . •
By the admiralty law, maritime liens or privileges for neces- ■ sary advances made,- or supplies furnished, to keep a vessel fit for sea, take precedence of all prior claims upon her, unless for seamen’s wages Or- Salvage. It is upon this ground, that such advances or supplies, made or furnished in good faith to the master in á foreign port, are preferred to a prior mortgage, orto a.forfеiture to the United States for a precedent violation of the navigation laws.
The St. Jago de Cuba,
• In
The St. Jago de Cuba,
Mr. Justice Johnson, in delivering judgment, and speaking of the lien of material-men and other implied liens under maritime contracts, said: “The whole object of giving admiralty process and priority of payment to privileged creditors is to furnish wings and legs to ” the' vessel, “ to get back for the benefit of all concerned ; that is, to complete, her voyage.” “In every cas¡e, the last lien given will supersede the proceeding. The last bottomry bond will ride over all that precede it; and an abandonment to a salvor will supersede every prior claim. . The vessel must get on; this is the consideration-which .controls every other;, and not only the vessel, but even the cargo, is.
sub modo
subjected to this necessity-.”
In
The Yankee Blade,
Both the decisions of Mr. Justice Curtis, thus referred to, .depended on a statute of Maine, giving in general terms a lien upon a vessel for labor performed or materials furnished in her construction or repair, without undertaking to fix the comparative precedence of such liens.
In The Young Mechanic, after elaborate discussion of the nature of such a lien, it was held to be a jus in re, a right of property in the thing itself, existing independently of possession ; “ an appropriation made by the law, of a particular thing, as security for a debt or claim; the law creating an incumbrance thereon, and vesting in the creditor what we term a spi cial property in the .thing, which subsists from the moment when the debt-or claim arises, and accompanies the thing even into the hands of a purchaser.” “ Though tacitly created by the law, and to be executed only by the aid of a court of justice, and resulting in a judicial sale, it is as really a property in the thing, as the right of a pledgee, or the lien of a bailee for work; ” and is not “ only a privilege to arrest the vessel for the d.ebt, which, of itself, constitutes no incumbrance on the vessel, and becomes such only by virtue of an actual attachment.” 2 Curtis C. C. 406, 410, 412.
In The Kiersage, Mr. Justice Curtis held that the lien for labor and materials in the home port had precedence over a prior mortgage; and, after observing that, as he had held in The Young Mechanic, this lien “ was, in substance, a tacit hypothecation of the vessel, as security for the debt; ” “ a jus in re, constituting an incumbrance on the property by operation of law ; ” he added : “ And there can be no doubt that it takes effect wholly irrespective of the state of the title to the vessel. Whether the vessel belongs to one or more persons — whether the title has been so divided that one is a special and another a general owner, and however it may be incumbered, the law gives the liеn on the thing. The mortgagees can have *11 no claim to be preferred over the lien-holder because of their priority in time ; for their interest in the vessel is as much subject to the statute lien, as the interest of any other party. It is not in the power of the owner, by his' voluntary act, to withdraw any part of the title from the operation of the lien; if he could, he might altogether defeat it.” 2 Curtis C. C. 422, 423.,
, It was assumed in each of those cases that a lien, given by the local law, for building a ship, stоod on the same ground as a lien, under the same law,-,for repairing her: It has since been decided,' and is now settled, .that a contract for building a ship, being a contract made on land and to be performed on land, is not a maritime contract, and that a lien to' secure it, given by. local statute, is not- a maritime lien, and cannot, therefore, be. enforced’ fu admiralty.
The Jefferson,
“A maritime lien, unlike a lien at common law, may,” said Mr. Justice Field, speaking for this court, “exist without.possession of the thing upon which it is asserted, either actual or constructive. It confers, however, upon its holder such a right . in the thing, that he may subject it to condemnation and sale to satisfy his claim or damages.” “ The Only object off the-proceedings
in rem
is to make this right, where it exists available— to carry it into effect. It subserves no' other purpose.”
The Rock Island Bridge,
In the. admiralty and maritime law'of the United States, as declared and established by the decisions of this court, • the following propositions áre no longer doubtful:
• -ist. ■ For necessary repairs or supplies -furnished to a vessel
*12
in a foreign port, a lien is given by the general maritime law, following-the civil law, and may be enforced in admiralty.
The General Smith,
2d. For repairs .or supplies in the home port of the vessel, no lien exists, or can be enforced in admiralty, under the general law, independently of local statute.
The General
Smith, and
The St. Jago de Cuba,
above cited;
The Lottowanna,
3d. Whenever the statute of a State1 gives a lien, to be enforced by process
in rem
against the vessel, for repairs or supplies in her home port, this lien, being similar to the lien arising .in a foreign port under the general law,.is in the nature of a maritime lien, and therefore -may be enforced in admiralty in the courts of the United States.
The Planter,
4th. This-lien, in the nature of a maritime'lien, and to be enforced • by process in the nature of . admiralty, process,-is within the exclusive jurisdiction of .the courts of the. United States, sitting iri. admiralty..
The Moses Taylor,
The',fundamental reasons on. which these propositions rest may be summed up thus: The admiralty and maritime' jurisdiction is conferrеd on the courts of. the United States by the Constitution; and' cannot be enlarged or l’estricted by the legislation of a State. No State legislation, therefore, can bring within the admiralty jurisdiction of the national courts a subject, not maritime in its nature. But when a right, maritime, in it's nature, and to bé enforced by process in the nature of admiralty process, has been given by the statute of a State; the admiralty courts of the United States have jurisdiction, and exclusive jurisdiction, to;enforce that right аccording to their
*13
own rules of procedure. See, in addition to the cases above cited,
The
Orleans,
The settled rules of jurisdiction and practice on this subject were stated by Mr. Justice Bradley in
The Lottawanna
as follows: “ So long- as Congress does not interpose to regulate the subject, the rights of material-men furnishing necessaries to a vessel in her home port may be regulated in each State by state legislation. State' laws, it is true, cannot exclude the contract for furnishing such necessaries from the domain of admiralty jurisdiction, for it is a maritime contract, and they cannot alter the limits of that jui’isdiction; nor can they confer it upon the state courts so as to enable them to proceed
in rem
for the enforcement of liens created by such state laws, for it is exclusively conferred upon the District Courts of the United States. They can only authorize the enforcement thereof by common law remedies, or such remedies as are equivalent thereto. But the District Courts of the United States, having jurisdiction of the contract as a maritime one, may enforce liens given for its security, even when created by the state laws.”
By the Kevised Statutes of Illinois of 1874, c. 12, § 1, every sailing vessel, steamboat or other water craft of above five tons burthen,' used or intended to be' used in navigating the waters of the State, or used in trade and commerce between ports and places within the State, or having her home port in the State, “ shаll be subject to a lien thereon ” for all debts contracted by her owner or master on account of supplies and provisions furnished for her use, or of work done or services rendered on board of her “ by any seaman, master or other employ é thereof,” or “of work done or materials furnished by mechanics, tradesmen or others, in or about the building, repairing, fitting, furnishing or equipping such craft,” and also for sums due for wharfage, towage, or the like, or upon contracts of affreightment, and damages for injuries to persons or property. By §§ 3, 4, the lien may be enforced by a petition filed in a court of record in the county where the vessel is found, 'within five years, but cannot be enforced “ as against *14 or to the prejudice of any other creditor, or subsequent incumbrancer or bona fide purchaser,” unless the petition is filed within nine months after the debt’accrues or becomes due. By §§ 5-8, upon the filing of the petition, and of a bond from the petitionеr to the owner of the vessel to prosecute the suit with effect, or, in case of failure to do so, to pay all costs and damages caused to the owner or other persons interested in the vessel by the wrongful suing out of the attachment, a writ of attachment is to issue to the sheriff to seize and keep •the vessel. By §§ 10, 11, notice is to be given to the owners in .person, and by publication to all other persons interested, arrcl they raiay intervene to protect their interests. By §§ 15-17, the vessel may be delivered up to the owner, or to any other person interested, upon his giving bond, or making a deposit of money. By § 19, the owner and other claimants are to file answers. By §§ 21-27, upon judgment for the petitioner, the vessel, if-remaining in custody, is to be sold by the sheriff; and the proceeds (deductingcertain costs) áre to be applied, first, to the'wages due to seamen, including the master, for certain periods, and then to all other claims, filed beforе the distribution, on which judgment has been rendered in fa,?or of the claimant, and to any balance due to seamen; and any remnant is to be applied, first, to all other liens en-' forceable under the statute before distribution ; second, to all mortgages or other incumbrances of the vessel by the owner, “in proportion to the interest they cover and priority; ” third, to judgments at law or decrees in chancery against the owner; and any surplus to the owner. •
■ It thus appears thаt, for all supplies or provisions furnished for the use of a vessel, or for work done and materials furnished in repairing-her, in her home port, the statute gives a lien upon the vessel, to be" enforced by proceedings in rein, analogous to such proceedings in admiralty.
In'the present case, the District Court has found and adjudged that the sums claimed by the appellants.for supplies, repairs and services were due to them; and the Circuit Court of Appeals has stated in .its certificate that for these supplies, repairs and services there was a lien upon the vessel under the *15 laws of the State of Illinois; and has certified to this court the single question “ whether a claim arising upon a vessel mortgage is to be preferred to the claim for supplies and necessaries furnished to a vessel in its home port ifr the'State of Illinois subsequently to the date of the recording of the mortgage.”
It must be assumed, therefore, for the purpose of deciding • this question, that all the claims of the appellants for supplies and repairs were contracted under such circumstances, that a lien upon the vessel for their payment existed under the statute of Illinois, and should be enforced in admiralty by the courts of the United States against the proceeds of the vessel, unless the mortgagees are entitled to priority in the distribution.
An ordinary mortgage of a vessel, whether made to secure the purchase money upon the sale thereof, or to. raise money for general purposes, is not a maritime contract. A court of admiralty, therefore, has no jurisdiction of a libel to foreclose it, or to .assert either title or right of possession under it.
The John
Jay,
The appellees rely on section 4192 of the Bevised Statutes of the United States, Avhich substantially reenacts the act of July 29, 1850, c. 27, § 1, (9 Stat. 440,) and is as follows: “No bill of sale, mortgage, hypothecation or conveyance of any vessel, or part of any vessel, of the United States shall be valid against any person other than the grantor or mortgagor, his heirs and devisees, and persons having actual notice thereof; unless such bill of sale, mortgage, hypothecation or conveyance is recorded in the office of the collector of the customs where such vessel is registered or enrolled. The lien by bottomry on any vessel, created during her voyage, by a loan of money'or *16 materials, necessary to repair or enable her to prosecute a voyage, shall not, however, lose its priority, or be in. any way affected by the provisions of this section.”
The aрpellees contend that no lien created by the legislature of a State can override a prior mortgage'recorded under this act of Congress.
But that enactment is a mere registry act, intended to prevent mortgages and other conveyances of vessels from having any effect (which they might have had before) against persons other than the grantor or mortgagor, and those claiming under him, or haying actual notice thereof, unless recorded as therein provided.
White's Bank
v.
Smith, 1
Wall. 646;
Aldrich
v.
Ætna Co.,
In
The Lottawanna,
the mortgage was preferred to -the
*17
claim of the material-men in the home-port, only because the latter had not recorded their lien as required lay the law of the State to make it valid; and it was clearly implied in the opinion of the-court, delivered by Mr. Justice Bradley/ as well as distinctly asserted in the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Clifford, that their lien, if valid; would take precedence of the mortgage.
The appellees rely on a line of cases in the courts of the United States held in Illinois, beginning with a decision of Judge Drummond in 1869, and upon similar cases in the Supreme Court of the State, as' establishing, as a rule of property, that a. mortgage takes precedence of a lien for supplies afterwards furnished to a vessel in her home port under the statute of Illinois..
The Grace Greenwood,
(1869)
' But the question in controversy depends upon principles of general jurisprudencе, and upon the .true construction of an act of Congress, and-, arises in the courts of the United States exercising the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction exclusively vested in them by the Constitution. Upon such a question, neither the decisions of the highest court of a State, nor those of the Circuit and District Courts of the United States, can relieve this court from the duty of exercising its own judgment.
Liverpool Steam Co.
v.
Phenix Ins. Co.,
Moreover, the rule preferring the lien for repairs or supplies in a home port to a prior mortgage was.recognized, even in the Seventh Circuit, by Judge Dyer in the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in' 1874, in The J. A. Travis, 7 Chicago Legal News, 275; apd it appears to prevail in every other judicial-circuit.of the United States.
*18
It has been upheld in the First Circuit, by Mr. Justice Curtis in
The
Kiersage, (1855) 2 Curtis C. C. 421, already cited, and by Judge Lowell in
The Island City,
(1869)
' In the Fifth Circuit, Mr. Justice Woods, then Circuit Judge, while admitting that the lien of a mortgage duly recorded was inferior to all strictly maritime liens, yet held that it was .superior to any subsequent lien for .supplies in the home port, . given by the -legislation of a State.
The John T. Moore,
(1877)
In the Sixth Circuit, Judge Sherman, sitting in bankruptcy, held that a .mortgage-must be-preferred to a subsequent lien for supplies under . a state statute.
Scott's Case,
(1869) 1 Abbott, (U. S.) 336. But the opposite rule has since been recognized as clearly established in admiralty in that circuit by deсisions' of Judge Withey in
The St. Joseph,
(1869)
The decisions in-the Eighth Circuit, by Judge Thayer in The Wyoming, (1888) 35 Fed. Rep. 518 and in the Ninth Circuit, by Judge Hoffman in The Harrison, (1870) 1 Sawyer, 353, and The Hiawatha, (1878) 5 Sawyer, 160, and by Judge Deady in The Canada, (1881) 7 Sawyer, 173, are to the same effect.'
According to the great preponderance of American- authority, therefore, as well as upon settled principles, the. lien create?! by the statute of a State, for repairs or supplies furnished to a vessel in her home port, has the like precedence over a prior mortgage, that is аccorded to a lien for repairs or supplies in a foreign port under the general maritime law, as recognized and adopted in the United States. Each, rests upon the furnishing of supplies to the ship, .on the credit of the ship herself, to preserve her existence and secure' her usefulness, for the benefit of all having any title or interest in-her. Eacli creates a. jus in re, a right of property in the vessel, existing independently of possession, and arising as soon as the сontract is made, and before the .institution of judicial proceedings to enforce it.- The contract in each case is maritime, and the lien which -the law .gives to secure it is maritime in its nature, and is enforced in admiralty by reasqn of its. maritime nature only.- The mortgage, on the other hand, is not a maritime contract, and constitutes no maritime ■ lien, and the mortgagee can only share in the proceeds in the registry after all maritime liens have been satisfied.
It would^ seem to follow that any priority given by the statute of a State, or by decisions.at common law or in equity, is immaterial; and that the admiralty courts of the United States, enforcing the lien because it is maritime in its nature, arising upon a maritime contract, must give it the rank to which it is entitled by the. principles of the maritime and admiralty law.
*20 As was forcibly said by Mr.' Justice Matthews, in The Guiding Star, above cited, “ In enforcing the statutory lien in maritime causes, admiralty courts do not adopt the statute itself, or the construction placed upon it by courts of common law or of equity, when they apply it. Everything required . by the statute, as a condition on which the lien arises and vests, must, of course,* be regarded by courts of admiralty; fqr'they can only act in enforcing a lien when the statute has, according to its terms, conferred it; but beyond that the statute, as such, does not furnish the rule for governing the decision of the cause in admiralty, as betwéeii conflicting claims and liens. The maritime law treats the lien, because conferred upon a maritime contract by the statute, as if' it had been conferred by itself,, and consequently upon the same • footing as all maritime liens; the order of payment between them being determinable upon its own principle's.” 18 Fed. Eep. 268.
' It is unnecessary, however, in this case, to dwell upon that consideration, inasmuch as the lien in question is given precedence over mortgages, by the) express terms of the .statute of Illinois, as well as by the principles of the maritime law and the practice in admiralty.
The decisions in the Privy Council of England in The Two Ellens, L. R. 4 P. C. 161, and The Rio. Tinto, 9 App. Cas. 356, cited by the appellees, in which the claims of prior mortgagees were preferred to. claims of material-men in the home port, cannot affect our conclusion. Those decisions'proceeded upon the ground that the material-men had no jus in re, ' because there was, by the law of England, no maritime lien for supplies, and- because the acts of Parliament were construed as having given no lien for them until the arrest of the shiр by admiralty process. The essential difference, -in its very nature, between the right of material-men in a court of admiralty, under the law arid statutes of England as judicially declared and expounded, and their right, by virtue of a local statute giving a maritime lien and a jus in re, as recognized in our own jurisprudence, is yet more clearly brought out in a later ease,: in which the Court of Appeal and the House of *21 Lords held that, even for supplies furnished in an English port to a foreign vessel, there wаs no lien, but a mere right to seize her upon process in admiralty. The Heinrich Bjorn, 10 P. D. 44, and 11 App. Cas. 270.
No question .as to the lien of the master, or as to the comparative rank of various maritime liens inter se$e, is presented by this case, in which the only question certified by' the Circuit Court of Appeals, or within our jurisdiction to consider, as the case stands, is whether a claim arising under a mortgage of the vessel is to be preferred to the claim for supplies and necessaries furnished in her home port in the State of Illinois since the mortgage was recorded. This question must, for the reasons above stated, be
Answered in the negative.