Ackerson v. Hama Hama Logging Co.

Plaintiffs brought this suit for damages to their temporary fishtrap located in Apple Tree cove on Puget Sound. The tug Norene, belonging to defendants White, Clough and Ryan, was towing a large raft of logs. The captain of the tug went to sleep, and the tug ran aground. The tides carried the raft of logs around and into the fishtrap, thereby breaking and bending over a number of piles having eight inch butts and five inch tops. The trap was made of chicken wire stretched between these piles.

Defendants contended the damage was slight; plaintiffs claimed that the breaking and bending of the…