Sigurjonsson v. Trans-American Traders, Inc. The Gatito

STRUM, Circuit Judge.

This is an appeal from a decree in admiralty dismissing a libel for seamen’s wages, return transportation to their shipping port, and for certain statutory penalties.

During late January and early February, 1950, at the port of New York, the owner of the motorship “Gatito” by oral agreement employed libellants aboard said vessel at a specific rate of pay, to assemble traps and prepare the vessel for a fishing voyage on which libellants would constitute the crew, and would engage in fishing on shares, 50% to the owner, and 50% to be divided amongst the crew according to…