The Benjamin A. Van Brunt

THOMPSON, District Judge.

The cause was referred to a commissioner for the purpose of ascertaining and computing the damages to be recovered by the libelant from the respondent, resulting from a collision held to have been caused by the sole fault of the steamship Cananova. The primary controversy before the commissioner arose over the contention of the respondent that the damages suffered by the Van Brunt caused a constructive total loss of the vessel by reason of the cost of repairs exceeding the market value of the vessel at the time of the collision in her condition immediately prior…