The Suduffco

THACHER, District Judge.

Upon the proofs presented at the trial the petitioners clearly showed seaworthiness at the commencement of the voyage, and accordingly tihat they were prima facie entitled to limit their liability to the value of the vessel and her pending freights. Claimants’ witnesses who testified in court impressed me as unreliable, and upon the whole case I have no hesitation in finding that the vessel was in fact seaworthy. But if it had been shown that the vessel was in some respects unseaworthy, and that the fact was ascertainable in the exercise of reasonable diligence, the…