Marcussen v. The Mary Fraser

The above libels arise out of damages caused by the drifting of vessels at anchor. On the seventh of August, 1885, the Norwegian bark Svalen was towed down the harbor upon the flood-tide, preparatory to going to sea, and came to anchor about half a mile off the Staten island shore at a distance variously estimated from 600 to 1,800 feet north-westerly from the British ship Mary Fraser which had been previously anchored there upon her arrival from sea.

One of the defenses of the claimants is that the Svalen anchored in a foul berth; that is, dangerously near the Mary Fraser. The two remained in…