Hoof v. Pacific American Fisheries

NETERER, District Judge.

The libelant was employed by the respondent in the capacity of watchman- on the vessel Cleo. The vessel had been launched, and was afloat in the navigable waters, but was not “finished,” and therefore not in commission, at the time, as an instrumentality of commerce and navigation. Plaintiff, while making his rounds, and in attempting to go from the forward bridge deck to the forward main deck by means of steps which had been constructed and placed there by the respondent, and for that purpose, slipped and fell to the floor of the main deck, throwing the plaintiff to…