Continental Grain Company, Libelant-Appellee v. American Commercial Barge Line Company, and Blaske, Inc.

SWYGERT, Circuit Judge.

This is an action in admiralty in which libelant Continental Grain Company sued the American Commercial Barge Line Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Blaske, Inc., for damages to a shipment of corn transported by respondents’ barge from libelant’s elevator at Seneca, Illinois, to South Chicago. The district court found respondents liable in the amount of $8,455. They appeal.

American’s barge was spotted at Continental’s elevator on December 10, 1957. Before the corn was loaded, Continental inspected the barge and found it to be dry. The barge was loaded by it on…