204 F. 692 | E.D. Va. | 1913
(after stating the facts as above). The pleadings present for the consideration of the court the questions of (a) whether libelant has a maritime claim; (b) whether the sloop Virginia Belle is subject to the admiralty jurisdiction of the court; and (c) the effect of the hill of sale given for the sloop recorded prior to the filing of the libel. These questions will be considered in. the order named.
On first impressions, it would appear that the libelant might be termed a fisherman, rather than a seaman, and hence not entitled to proceed in admiralty as for a maritime claim. But the maritime law-treats persons engaged in fishing enterprises upon waters as seamen, and accords them the same rights, privileges, and remedies afforded seamen; and particularly is this true of one occupying the position of the libelant, namely, engineer of the boat used in the service. The Minna (D. C.) 11 Fed. 759, a derision of judge Brown, of the Fastern district of Michigan, afterwards Mr. Justice Brown, of the Supreme
“At first blush I was inclined to the opinion that libelant’s services, not being maritime in their character, were not such as to create a lien upon the vessel. The earlier cases collated in 2 Parsons, Shipping, 185, indicate that mere landsmen have no lien, unless their labors contribute to the preservation or navigation of the ship, or to the sustenance or health of the crew. See, also, Gurney v. Crockett, Abb. Adm. 490, Fed. Cas. No. 5,874; Cox v. Murray, Abb. Adm. 340, Fed. Cas. No. 3,304. But, upon reflection, I am satisfied the sounder principle is that stated in Ben. Adm. § 241, and The Ocean Spray, 4 Sawy. 105, Fed. Cas. No. 10,412, viz., that all hands employed upon a vessel, except the master, are entitled to a lien if their services are in furtherance of the main object of the enterprise in which she is engaged.' Amy other rule would put large classes of persons employed upon steamboats outside the pale of admiralty law. * * * The test is whether the services are for the benefit of a vessel engaged in commerce and navigation. If there be a failure in either respect, viz., in the character or in the nature of the ship’s employment, there is no lien. I do not regard the 'fact that libel-ant slept upon shore at night, and there reeled out and mended the nets, as qualifying in any way the nature of his contract. These services were merely incidental and subsidiary to his main contract. The Canton, 1 Spr. 437, Fed. Cas. No. 2,388; The Mary, 1 Spr. 204, Fed. Cas. No. 9,190. Upon the facts, I think that libelant is entitled to recover.”
To this case, including those cited therein, and in the note at the foot of the decision, special reference is made as conclusive of the law of the present case. Indeed, if there was no decision other than that of Mr. Justice Brown, the same would be followed, as no higher authority can be found respecting maritime matters.
A decree will be entered in favor of the libelant for $120, the amount of his claim, together with his costs.