The Chicago

HAZEL, District Judge.

The issues in the above-entitled cases were referred by me, pursuant to stipulation of the parties, to Hon. George Clinton, under admiralty rule 44, to hear, try, and determine, and render his decision, with an opinion, to this court. The report of the commissioner is that the primary cause of the injury to libelants was the use by the steam vessel Chicago of too brittle cast-iron hinges, which were attached to the hatch combings, and upon which were suspended skids weighing about one-half a ton. He further reported that such hinges were of such low resistance to strains…