The Mauretania

SWAN, Circuit Judge.

In this case * shippers of cargo carried by the steamship Mauretania in February, 1932, sue for damage to their merchandise by sea water. The vessel sailed from Southampton on February 17th, called at Cherbourg, and arrived in New York on February 23d. The cargo in question was stowed in the “harbor deck” of No. 1 hold, the refrigerating space below, and the lower hold or “trimming tank.” During the voyage sea water entered through a defective porthole, the forward one of four on the left side of the harbor deck, and thence overflowed through the hatchway to the decks…