The De Gama

TOULMIN, District Judge.

It is well settled that vessels engaged in commerce are liable for damage occasioned by collision on account of the negligence, want of care, or skill on the part of those employed in their navigation. But consequences of this kind do not follow, where the person committing the fault does not, in fact or by implication of law, stand in relation of agent to the owners of the colliding vessel. By employing a tug to transport their vessel from one place to another, the owners of the tow do not necessarily constitute the master and crew of the tug their agents in…