Martin v. Carroll

DODGE, District Judge.

The 16 libelants were fishermen on board the schooner Massachusetts during a fishing trip made by that vessel from Gloucester to the fishing grounds of Labrador and back during the summer of 1908. The respondent was master.of the schooner and has in his hands a part of the net proceeds of her catch, which the libelants say he ought to divide among them.

The facts are not disputed. There were no articles signed for the voyage in question, but the 16 libelants, the master and 2 other men, Keefe and Mara, 19 men in all, agreed to go in her on “half lay.” This means,…