The Nymph

18 F. Cas. 506, 1 Sumn. 516
CourtU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Maine
DecidedMay 15, 1834
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 18 F. Cas. 506 (The Nymph) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
The Nymph, 18 F. Cas. 506, 1 Sumn. 516 (circtdme 1834).

Opinion

STORY, Circuit Justice.

There are in this case two points; one of law, upon which, having been fully argued, the court will now pronounce its opinion; and the other of fact, which will be open for argument at a future term, if in the mean time the cause is not otherwise disposed of. The schooner was duly licensed in October, 1832, to be employed in the cod fishery, pursuant to the coasting and fishery act of 1793, c. 52 [1 Story's Laws, 285; 1 Stat. 310, ch. 8]. And the allegation made at the bar is, that she was during the existence of that license employed in the mackerel fishery, which, it is contended, is a trade other than that for which she was licensed; and consequently, that she is subjected to forfeiture under the 32il section of the act. Assuming, that she was so employed in the mackerel fishery, it is contended; first, that the mackerel fishery is not a trade within the meaning of the 32il section of the act; and, secondly, that if it be, still the license for the cod fishery includes the right to be employed in the mackerel fishery. The 32d section declares, that if any licensed ship or vessel “shall be employed in any other trade than that, for which she is licensed,” she, with her tackle, &c. shall be forfeited. And the first question is, in what sense the word “trade” is used iu this section. The argument for the claimant insists, that “trade” is here used in its most restrictive sense, and as equivalent to traffic in goods, or buying and selling in commerce or exchange. But I am clearly of opinion, that such is not the true sense of the word, as used in the 32d section. In the first place, the -word “trade’ is often, and indeed generally, used in a broader sense, as equivalent to occupation, employment, or business, whether manual or mercantile. Wherever any occupation, employment, or business is carried on for the purpose of profit, or gain, or a livelihood, not in the liberal arts or in the learned professions, it is constantly called a trade. Thus, we constantly speak of the art, mystery. or trade of a housewright, a shipwright, a Tailor, a blacksmith, and a shoe-maker, though some of these may be, and sometimes are. carried on without buying or selling goods. It is in this extended sense, that the word was understood in construing this very section by the circuit court in the case of The Eliza [Case No. 4,346], and by the supreme court in the ease of The Active, 7 Crunch [11 U. S.] R. 100. 106. In neither of these cases was the vessel employed in traffic in the strictest sense; but merely in the transportation of merchandise on freight, or for hire. See Com. Dig. “Trade,” A. D. 5; 2 Co. Inst. 621, 668. See, also, The Two Friends [Case No. 14,289]; The Three Brothers [Id. 14,009]. But the act itself furnishes abundant proof, that “trade” in the 32d section is used in the more enlarged sense already alluded to; and indeed this is the only sense which will satisfy the requisitions of the act. We are not to enlarge penal statutes by implication, so as to cover cases within the same mischiefs, though not within the words. But, on the other hand, we are to ascertain the true legislative sense of the words used; and that sense being once ascertained, courts of justice are bound to give effect to that intent, and are not at liberty to fritter it upon metaphysical niceties. The very words of the 32d section show, that “trade” must there mean something more than mere traffic in goods or commercial buying and selling. The words are, “if any such ship or vessel shall be employed in any other trade, than that for which she is licensed.” It is then supposed, that she is to be licensed for some trade, and that she may be employed iu another trade. The only cases, in which a license is authorized and required, are for vessels to be employed in the coasting trade, or the whale fishery, or the cod fishery. The 32d section equally applies to each of these employments; and each of them is, therefore, necessarily contemplated to be a trade in the sense of the act. Indeed the coasting trade is ordinarily not a traffic of buying and selling, but a transportation of goods for hire. And there is no more difficulty, in propriety of language, in denominating the whale fishery the whale trade, and the cod fishery the cod trade, than in denominating the coasting business the coasting trade. See Reeve, Shipp, p. 216, c. 5, &c.; Bac. Abr. “Merchant and Merchandise,” N, 5; 2 Dane, Abr. c. 68, art. 9, § 9. Each embraces the same general notion, employment, occupation, or business for gain or hire, in contradistinction to employments for mere pleasure. It also deserves notice, and. in confirmation of the views already suggested, it may be added, that the charter of Massachusetts of 1028 expressly provided, that all subjects should have the right and liberty “to use and exercise the trade of fishing upon the coast of New England” (1 Haz. Collect, p. 254; Hutch. Collect, pp. 1-23; Ancient Charters and Laws, and Prov. Laws, p. 20; Adams, Fisheries [1822], p. 185); and the provincial charter of 1691 recognised the same right and liberty in the same terms; thus conclusively establishing, that the very fisheries in 'question were significantly deemed a trade.

The very form of the license, and the other regulations prescribed by the 4th and 5th sections of the act, prove, that trade, employment, and business are used in the act as equivalent terms. Before a license is granted, a bond is to be given, that the vessel “shall not be employed in any trade, whereby the revenue of the United States shall be defrauded.” The master of the vessel is to [508]*508swear or affirm, “that such license shall not he used for any vessel or,any other employment than that for which it is specially granted, or in any trade or business whereby the revenue of the United States may be defrauded.” And “no license granted to any ship or vessel shall be considered in force any longer than such ship or vessel is owned, and of the description set forth in the license, or for carrying on any other business or employment, than that for which she is specially licensed.” Taking these provisions in connexion with the language of the 32d section, it seems beyond any reasonable doubt, that the whole policy of the act would be defeated, and its manifest intention be evaded, by any narrow definition of the word “trade.” It appears to me, therefore, that, unless the court were at liberty wholly to disregard its ordinary duty in the construction of this statute, an employment in the mackerel fishery is a “trade” within its purview.

The next question is, whether the license in the present case, for employment in the cod fishery, includes within its scope a license for a distinct employment in the mackerel fishery. Notwithstanding the ingenious and able argument of the counsel of the claimant, 1 am decidedly of opinion, that it does not; and I will now proceed to give the reasons for that opinion. A license to be employed in the cod fishery, ex vi termi-norum, cannot include any right or privilege except those, which are incident and belong to that particular branch of trade. The license confers on the party whatever is necessary and appropriate to that trade; for a right to carry on any business naturally includes all the usual and customary means, by which the end is to be accomplished. The right to dig, purchase, and use clams, or other bait, to purchase and transport salt, and procure other reasonable equipments for the voyage, are therefore clearly within the scope of the license. And so far as mackerel are or may be used, as a customary bait m the course of the voyage, there can be as little doubt, that the right to fish for and use them for that purpose is also included.

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Bluebook (online)
18 F. Cas. 506, 1 Sumn. 516, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/the-nymph-circtdme-1834.