462
FEDERAL REPORTER.
backed at the time he heard the contrary whistles. But this judgment was based upon the position of the Jamaica at that time in his mind as being near to her pier. That was her situation at her own first two whistles. On account of this evident confusion, and the perplexity which marks his testimony, as well as his readiness to accede to the statement made by the officers of the Jamaica's line at the time of the transaction, conclusive weight can be given to his testimony. For these reasons I do not think the Nerem; has sustained the burden of proof that is upon her, to absolve herself from her previous fault by showing that her subsequent signal of one whistle was given in sufficient time to charge the whole blame for not complying with it upon the Jamaica. But the previous fault of the Jamaica being also clear, the damages must be divided between them.
THE MANGALORE. (Dis(rz"e( (Jour(, D. (Jalijornia.
December 5, 1882.)
8mPPING-LIABILITY OF SHIP FOR DAMAGE TO CARGO-BILL OF LADING-ExCEPTED PERILS.
On examination of the evidence, held, that the vessel was liable for the damage to the cargo.
In Admiralty. William Ba,rber, for libelants. Milton Andros, for claimants. HOFFMAN, J. After some hesitation I have reached the conclusion that the claimants have not, by a preponderance of proofs, shown that the damage to the goods was caused by one of the excepted perils. A very attentive examination of the log-book has led me to the opinion that the voyage was perhaps of less than ordinary severity, and if the weather and seas encountered by the Mangalore can be received as an excuse for bringing into port a cargo so extensively damaged as this was, and for decks in the condition in which her decks were found, almost every ship that comes around the Horn could set up a similar excuse. The court is asked to infer "straining" from the condition of her decks alone, no other trace of it being 'elsewhere visible, so far as disclosed by the proofs, and this in the face of testimony by very competent experts (though it is not uncontradicted) that no iron vessel could strain so as to bpen her seams as those of the Mangalore were opened, without showing the effects of It in her rivets. I cannot exonerate the ship on the ground that BOme of the damage was caused by her hatch being stove in by a sea. lor several reasons : .
TB:E MANGA-LOBL
4:68
THE MANGALORE.
rD.'lItrice Ooure, D. Oalifornia.
June 12,1883.)
SHIPPING-INJURY TO CARGO-MEASURE 011' DAMAGES-REBATE AT Cm'l'OMHOUSE.
Where II cargo has been injured bylhe neglig('nce of. the vessel, the measure of the damages is the between the market value of the damaged goods at the time and place of delivery and what their value would have !leen if uninjured, less any rebate allowed at the custom-hoWie.
In Admiralty. William Barber, for libelants. Milton Andros and Charles Page, for claimants. HOFFMAN, J. The only question raised by the exceptions which, as it appears to me, admits of doubt, is whether the damage to the shipment was confined to 164 bales, or extended to the consignment. Mr. Gallego wishes it to be understood that the damage estimated by him at one and three-quarters to two cents per bag pervaded the entire lot of 300 bales, containing 1,000 bags each. But his testimony is quite obscure, and his memory by no means distinct. His examination of the shipment was made in conjunction with the customs officers, who took, as their duty required, notes of the results of their inspections in order to detel"mine the rebate of duty to be al-