Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 6.djvu/417

 THE BEHEEA. 405 �Lovett the stevedore, to be correct, as respects the situation of the ships in the dock, was it prudent to take the barge in between them, and to remain after the tide had commenced to run down? Anstver. The libellant was very imprudent in going into the dock under the oircumstances which he and Mr, Lovett the stevedore describe. He should have expected to get fast. If he stayed any length of time he almost certainly would. �Second. Are the bottoms of docks usuallylevel from side to side, affording an equal depth of water throughout ? Describe their usual condition in this respect. Ansiver. The docks •when first dug or cleaned are deepest near the middle. The earth is not removed, to the same extent near the foundations of the piers. The efifect of vessels settling in the mud as the tide goes down at the sides of the dock, is to slide off and fdrm a bed and at this place on each side the water will usually be found deepest pretty soon after the dock has been constructed or cleaned out. This bed will be formed from 20 to 25 feet from the pier; the yessel in going on the bottom will slip from the pier, the condition of the bank formed near the foundation throwing her ofif as she settles. �Third. Considering the Behera's size and draf t, (20 ifeet forward) and her cargo, (1700 tons) was it practicable to keep her close to the pier? Ansiver. It was not practicable to keep the Behera up to the pier. If she floated at high water she could be breasted close ; but as soon as the tide ran down sufficiently to let her touch the bottom she would slip off in the mud and then probably list over. I have no doubt of this. No fasts would keep her up after she ceased to float; her weight would be on them and something must break. �Fourth. In an hour and a quarter after the water reached its height, how much would it fall off? Answer. The tide would fall at least two feet and most probably two and a half feet in an hour and a quarter after it had reached its height. ��� �