Ontario v. Mar-Dive Corp. et al., (1996) 20 O.T.C. 81 (GD)

Ont. v. Mar-Dive Corp. (1996), 20 O.T.C. 81 (GD)

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty the Queen in right of Ontario (plaintiff) v. Mar-Dive Corporation, Atlantic Western Limited, Michael Fletcher and all those persons alleging an interest in the Vessel "Atlantic" a sunken, wooden-hulled, double side-wheeled paddle steamer, her engines, boilers, tackle, outfit, apparel and furniture, etc., located within a circle having a radius of 600 feet, whose centre point is at coordinates 42 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude and 80 degrees, 5 minutes west longitude and all those persons alleging an interest in the abandoned cargo of the Vessel "Atlantic" and all those persons alleging an interest in an unnamed, sunken and abandoned submersible diving bell built circa 1851 attached to the Vessel "Atlantic" (defendants)

(Court File No. 92-CU-60588)

Mar-Dive Corporation and Atlantic Western Limited (plaintiffs) v. Michael Lynn Fletcher, Her Majesty The Queen in right of Ontario, Attorney General of Canada and all those alleging an interest in the "Atlantic" a wrecked, sunken, wooden-hulled, double side-wheeled paddle steamer, her engines, boilers, tackle, outfit, apparel and furniture, etc., located within a circle having a radius of 600 feet, whose centre point is at coordinates 42 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude and 80 degrees, 5 minutes west longitude and all those persons alleging an interest in the abandoned cargo of the Vessel "Atlantic" and all those persons alleging an interest in an unnamed, sunken and abandoned submersible diving bell built circa 1851 attached to the Vessel "Atlantic" (defendants)

(Court File No. 92-CQ-21849)

Michael Lynn Fletcher (plaintiff) v. Mar-Dive Corporation and Atlantic Western Limited, California Corporations, in personam and Her Majesty the Queen in right of the Province of Ontario and the Attorney General of Canada and the S.S. "Atlantic", in rem a wrecked, sunken, lost, abandoned, derelict wooden-hulled, double side-wheeled paddle steamer, her engines, boiler, tackle, outfit, apparel, furnishings, fixtures and furniture, etc., including her cooking and dining utensils, stoneware, ship's stores, chinaware, plate, crockery, ironstone china, etc., sunk in Canadian waters in Lake Erie, Ontario and the abandoned cargo of the S.S. "Atlantic" in rem and the abandoned, derelict, personal possessions of crew and passengers of the S.S. "Atlantic" in rem and the unnamed, wrecked, sunken, abandoned and derelict submarine built circa 1851 located on or about the said S.S. "Atlantic" in rem and an unnamed, wrecked, sunken and abandoned tank located on or about the wreck of the S.S. "Atlantic" in rem (defendants)

(Court File No. 92-CU-60398)

Indexed As: Ontario v. Mar-Dive Corp. et al.

Ontario Court of Justice

General Division

Lissaman, J.

December 20, 1996.

Summary:

In 1852, the American ship "Atlantic" (the ship) sunk in the Canadian portion of Lake Erie following a collision with another American ship in the American portion of the lake. Following a trial and an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the ship owners were awarded $36,000 for the total loss of the ship. In 1873, Western Wrecking Co. attempted to salvage the ship without success. In 1874, Western Wrecking sold its only vessel and ceased to carry on business. In 1914, its articles of incorporation were revoked. In 1984, Fletcher, a Canadian, located the ship. The ship (the wreck) was buried 13 feet, up to her natural water line, in the mud at the bottom of the lake. Between 1984 and 1989, Fletcher recovered hundreds of artifacts from the wreck site. Borsse claimed that he located the ship in 1989. Borsse also claimed that he and Cramer had dived on the wreck in 1990 and removed a number of artifacts which they took to the United States. They were aware that Fletcher had dived on the wreck before them and even used his dive lines. Borsse also claimed that they dived on the wreck in 1991. In 1990, Morgan, Borsse, Cramer and Rombach (the Mar-Dive Group) revived Western Wrecking; incorporated Mar-Dive, formed Atlantic Western, and purportedly transferred title to the ship to Atlantic Western so that Atlantic Western could enter an agreement with Mar-Dive which would allow Mar-Dive to carry out salvage on the artifacts on board the wreck. The members of the Mar-Dive Group, who resided in California, took several of the wreck's artifacts to California. The Mar-Dive Group registered the ship in California and commenced an action there to enforce its claim to the wreck. In 1991, the United States District Court, Central District of California, authorized the issuance of a warrant for arrest in rem against the cargo and artifacts associated with the ship. Morgan and a Pennsylvania State Constable attached the California Court pleadings to a surface buoy at the wreck site. In 1992, the Mar-Dive Group obtained a default judgment from the California Court against the abandoned cargo. Fletcher commenced an admiralty action in the Federal Court of Canada. He deposited with the Receiver of Wrecks the artifacts he had taken from the wreck site. The deposit was made after Mar-Dive had made its motion for judgment in rem in the California action. In 1994, the California Court issued an order giving summary judgment and injunctive relief against Fletcher who had continued to dive on the wreck. After the U.S. judgments were final, Mar-Dive commenced an action in the Federal Court of Canada to domesticate its U.S. judgments in Canada. The Province of Ontario commenced an action against Mar-Dive, Atlantic Western and Fletcher, claiming ownership of the wreck. Ontario sought a declaration that the ship had been abandoned; that the abandoned ship and cargo belonged to it because it was embedded in its soil (or alternatively, Ontario claimed title on the basis of Royal Prerogative to wrecks); that the Province was not liable to salvage at common law or under the Proceedings Against the Crown Act; and that the California judgments should not be recognized by the Ontario courts, and in any event, was not binding upon the Province nor upon its property, in rem or in personam. Mar-Dive submitted that the court should recognize and enforce the judgments of the California Courts. In the alternative, Mar-Dive claimed, inter alia, the right to continue salvage under the Canada Shipping Act. Ontario had maintained arrest warrants against Mar-Dive's personnel while allowing Fletcher and other Canadian divers to dive on the wreck. The actions by Fletcher and Mar-Dive in the Federal Court of Canada and the claim by Ontario were consolidated into a single action before the Ontario Court (General Division). Prior to the trial, Fletcher and Ontario reached a settlement.

The Ontario Court (General Division) declined to enforce the California judgments. The court held that the ship had been abandoned for many years; that it was embedded in the soil and became the property of the Province of Ontario (alternatively the ship and its contents became the property of the Province by virtue of the Royal Prerogative); and that the Mar-Dive Group did not have salvage rights to either the ship or its contents. The court granted a declaration that Ontario was the owner of the wreck and its contents and made a mandatory order requiring Mar-Dive et al. to return all property removed from the site.

Admiralty - Topic 8043

Practice - Actions in rem - General - Actions in rem distinguished from actions in personam - See paragraphs 207 and 208.

Conflict of Laws - Topic 604

Jurisdiction - General principles - Actions in personam - See paragraphs 207 and 208.

Conflict of Laws - Topic 2402

Admiralty - General - Forum conveniens - See paragraphs 205 to 223.

Conflict of Laws - Topic 2461

Admiralty - Actions in rem - General - See paragraphs 207 and 208.

Conflict of Laws - Topic 6606

Foreign judgments - General - Recognition of judgment of foreign state - See paragraphs 205 to 223.

Personal Property - Topic 2103

Abandonment - General - What constitutes - See paragraphs 231 to 241.

Practice - Topic 5928

Judgments and orders - Enforcement of foreign judgments - Defences - Lack of jurisdiction - See paragraphs 205 to 223.

Practice - Topic 5928

Judgments and orders - Enforcement of foreign judgments - Defences - Fraud - See paragraph 225.

Practice - Topic 5928

Judgments and orders - Enforcement of foreign judgments - Defences - Denial of natural justice - See paragraph 225.

Practice - Topic 5928

Judgments and orders - Enforcement of foreign judgments - Defences - Contrary to public policy - See paragraphs 225 to 228.

Practice - Topic 5928

Judgments and orders - Enforcement of foreign judgments - Defences - Not a party to action - See paragraph 229.

Practice - Topic 5929

Judgments and orders - Enforcement of foreign judgments - In personam judgments - See paragraphs 207 and 208.

Practice - Topic 5930

Judgments and orders - Enforcement of foreign judgments - In rem judgments - See paragraphs 207 and 208.

Real Property - Topic 4413

Treasure - Title to - Considerations - Embeddedness in the soil - See paragraphs 242 to 248.

Shipping and Navigation - Topic 6103

Wrecks - General - Abandonment of wrecks - See paragraphs 231 to 241.

Shipping and Navigation - Topic 6104

Wrecks - General - Ownership of wrecks - See paragraphs 231 to 241

Shipping and Navigation - Topic 6104

Wrecks - General - Ownership of wrecks - Royal prerogative - See paragraphs 249 to 254.

Shipping and Navigation - Topic 6806

Salvage - General - Claims involving the Crown - See paragraphs 255 to 257.

Shipping and Navigation - Topic 6846

Salvage - Rights of salvor - Treaty rights - See paragraphs 269 to 271.

Shipping and Navigation - Topic 6886

Salvage - Liability for salvage operations - General - Circumstances when compensation payable - See paragraphs 258 to 268.

Cases Noticed:

Duke v. Andler, [1932] 4 D.L.R. 529 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 77, Appendix].

Aichorn & Co. Kg. v. Ship MV Talabot (1974), 48 A.L.J.R. 403 (Aust.), refd to. [para. 77, Appendix].

Todd Shipyards Corp. v. F/V Maigus Luck (1965), 243 F.Supp. 8, refd to. [para. 80, Appendix].

Gulf & Southern Terminal Corp. v. Ship S.S. President Roxas (1983), 701 F.2d 1110 (4th Cir.), refd to. [para. 80, Appendix].

Treasure Salvors v. Unidentified Wreck (1978), 569 F.2d 330 (5th Cir.), refd to. [para. 89, Appendix].

Rock Island Bridge, Re (1867), 73 U.S. 213, refd to. [para. 94, Appendix].

Transorient Navigators Co. v. M/S Southwind (1986), 788 F.2d 288, refd to. [para. 101, Appendix].

Ellerman Lines Ltd. v. Read, [1928] 2 K.B. 144 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 105, Appendix].

McLean v. Shields (1885), 9 O.R. 699 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 105, Appendix].

Roglass Consultants Inc. v. Kennedy (1984), 65 B.C.L.R. 393 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 105, Appendix].

Jacobs v. Beaver (1908), 17 O.L.R. 496 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 105, Appendix].

Manolopoulos v. Paniffe, [1930] 2 D.L.R. 169 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [para. 105, Appendix].

Abouloff v. Oppenheimer (1882), 10 Q.B.D. 925 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 105, Appendix].

Four Embarcadero Center Venture v. Kalen (1988), 65 O.R.(2d) 551 (H.C.), consd. [para. 161, Appendix].

De Gaetani v. Carpenteri (1989), 38 C.P.C.(2d) 306 (Ont. Master), refd to. [para. 163, Appendix].

Clarke v. Lo Bianco (1991), 50 C.P.C.(2d) 127; 59 B.C.L.R.(2d) 334; 84 D.L.R.(4th) 244 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 165, Appendix].

Morguard Investments Ltd. et al. v. De Savoye, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 1077; 122 N.R. 81; 46 C.P.C.(2d) 1; 52 B.C.L.R.(2d) 160; [1991] 2 W.W.R. 217; 15 R.P.R.(2d) 1; 76 D.L.R.(4th) 256, appld. [para. 165, Appendix].

Minkler & Kirschbaum v. Sheppard (1991), 3 C.P.C.(3d) 104; 60 B.C.L.R.(2d) 360; 30 A.C.W.S.(3d) 40 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 165, Appendix].

McMickle v. Van Straaten (1992), 93 D.L.R.(4th) 74 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 165, Appendix].

Topp v. Row, [1996] O.J. No. 396 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 165, Appendix].

Castrique v. Imrie (1870), L.R. 4 H.L. 414, refd to. [para. 169, Appendix].

Ship Despina G.K., Re, [1983] 1 Q.B. 214, refd to. [para. 170, Appendix].

Jones v. Smith (1925), 56 O.L.R. 550 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 171, Appendix].

Senkiw v. Muzyka (1969), 68 W.W.R.(N.S.) 515 (Sask. C.A.), refd to. [para. 171, Appendix].

Columbus-America Discovery Group v. Atlantic Mutual Insurance Co., [1990] A.M.C. 2705; 742 F. Supp. 1327 (E.D. Va.), revd. (1992), 974 F.2d 450 (4th Cir.), consd. [para. 172, Appendix].

Columbus-America Discovery Group v. Unidentified, Wrecked and Abandoned Shipwreck S.S. Central America - see Columbus-America Discovery Group v. Atlantic Mutual Insurance Co.

Insurance Corp. v. Compagnie des Bauxites (1982), 456 U.S. 694 (U.S. Sup. Ct.), consd. [para. 173, Appendix].

Lauritzen v. Larsen (1953), 73 S.C. Ct. 921; 345 U.S. 571; 97 L. Ed. 1274, refd to. [para. 205, Appendix].

Indyka v. Indyka, [1969] 1 A.C. 33 (H.L.), consd. [para. 212].

United States of America v. Ivey et al. (1996), 93 O.A.C. 152 (C.A.), consd. [para. 215].

United States of America v. Ivey et al. (1995), 26 O.R.(3d) 533 (Gen. Div.), consd. [para. 215].

Arrowmaster Inc. v. Unique Forming Ltd. (1993), 17 O.R.(3d) 407; 29 C.P.C.(3d) 65 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 216, Appendix].

First American Bank & Trust (Receiver of) v. Garay (1994), 36 C.P.C.(3d) 319 (Ont. Gen. Div.), consd. [para. 217].

Simpson v. Gowers (1981), 32 O.R.(2d) 385 (C.A.), consd. [para. 231].

Chance v. Certain Artifacts Found and Salvaged from the Nashville (1983), 606 F. Supp. 801 (S.D. Fla.), consd. [para. 246].

Elwes v. Brigg Gas Co. (1886), 33 Ch. D. 562, consd. [para. 247, Appendix].

Multiple Access Ltd. v. McCutcheon, Lowry, Craig, Gibbs and Jarvis, [1982] 2 S.C.R. 161; 44 N.R. 181; 138 D.L.R.(3d) 1, consd. [para. 252].

Young v. Ship Scotia, [1903] A.C. 501 (P.C.), consd. [para. 256, Appendix].

Falcke v. Scottish Imperial Insurance Co. (1885), 34 Ch. D. 234 (C.A.), consd. [para. 259, Appendix].

Century 21 Real Estate Inc. v. Wenstob et al. (1990), 119 F.T.R. 201 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 263, Appendix].

Ship Aquila, Re (1798), 165 E.R. 87; 1 C. Rob. 37, refd to. [Appendix].

Armory v. Delamirie (1722), 1 Stra. 504; 93 E.R. 664 (K.B.), refd to. [Appendix].

British Columbia (Attorney General) v. Royal Bank, [1937] S.C.R. 459, refd to. [Appendix].

Barnett's Trust, Re, [1902] 1 Ch. 847, refd to. [Appendix].

Bemis v. Ship R.M.S. Lusitaia (1995), 884 F. Supp. 1042, refd to. [Appendix].

Brandt v. Overseas Food Importers & Distributors Ltd. (1981), 27 B.C.L.R. 31; 126 D.L.R.(3d) 422 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Deep Sea Research Inc. v. Brother Jonathan (1995), 883 F. Supp. 1343 (N.D. Cal.), refd to. [Appendix].

First & Merchants National Bank v. Ship James R. Adams, [1981] A.M.C. 2592 (4th Cir.), refd to. [Appendix].

Goldstein Co. v. Mitchell (1921), 14 Ohio App. 231, refd to. [Appendix].

Gourmet Resources International Inc. (Trustee) v. Paramount Capital Corp. (1991), 5 C.P.C.(3d) 140 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [Appendix].

Hole Estate, Re, [1948] 2 W.W.R. 754 (Man. K.B.), refd to. [Appendix].

Hooper v. Gumm; McLelland v. Gumm, [1867] 2 Ch. App. 282, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. British Columbia (Attorney General), [1924] A.C. 213 (Can. P.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Law v. Hansen, [1895] 25 S.C.R. 69, refd to. [Appendix].

Maldonado Estate, Spain (State) v. Treasury Solicitor, [1953] 2 All E.R. 1579 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Moyer v. Wrecked & Abandoned Vessel, 836 F. Supp. 1099 (D.N.J.), refd to. [Appendix].

Musurus Estate, Re, [1936] 2 All E.R. 1666, refd to. [Appendix].

Reference Re Pamon Gold Mines, [1984] 5 W.W.R. 761; 35 Sask.R. 191 (Q.B.), refd to. [Appendix].

Ownership of Lands known as Monarch, Extension, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and Huron Mineral Claims, Re - see Reference Re Pamon Gold Mines.

Parker v. British Airways Board, [1982] 1 Q.B. 1004 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Manitoba (Provincial Treasurer) v. Canada (Minister of Finance), [1943] S.C.R. 370, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Edwards (1983), 8 C.C.C.(3d) 510 (Ont. G.S.P.), refd to. [Appendix].

Regulation and Control of Radio Communication in Canada, Re, [1932] A.C. 304 (P.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Simpson v. Dredge Kruger (1914), 19 Exch. C.R. 64 (Toronto Admiralty Dist.), refd to. [Appendix].

Time Square Cinema Ltd., Re (1977), 25 C.B.R.(N.S.) 189 (Ont. S.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Trufort, Re; Trafford v. Blanc (1887), 36 Ch. D. 600, refd to. [Appendix].

Woodruff v. McLennan (1887), 14 O.A.R. 242 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Zych v. Unidentified Wrecked & Abandoned Vessel (Lady Elgin) (1990), 755 F. Supp. 213 (N.D. Ill.), refd to. [Appendix].

Zych v. Wrecked Vessel Believed to be the Lady Elgin (1992), 960 F.2d 665 (7th Cir.), refd to. [Appendix].

Davie v. Ship Young Hustler No. 1 (1962), 32 D.L.R.(2d) 470 (Ex. Ct.), refd to. [Appendix].

Pierce v. Bemis; Ship Lusitania, [1986] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 132, refd to. [Appendix].

Simon v. Taylor et al., [1975] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 338 (Singapore H.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Ship Humboldt v. Ship Escort No. 2 (1914), 20 D.L.R. 899; 21 Ex. C.R. 179, refd to. [Appendix].

Fairport International Exploration Inc. v. Shipwrecked Vessel (Captain Lawrence), 93 F. Supp. 522, refd to. [Appendix].

Eads v. Brazelton, 22 Ark. 499, refd to. [Appendix].

Parker v. British Airways Board, [1982] 1 All E.R. 834 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

South Staffordshire Water Co. v. Sharman, [1896] 2 Q.B. 44, refd to. [Appendix].

Chance v. Certain Artifacts Found and Salvaged from the Nashville (1983), 606 F. Supp. 1562 (S.D. Fla.), refd to. [Appendix].

Klein v. Unidentified Wrecked and Abandoned Sailing Vessel (1983), 568 F. Supp. 1562 (S.D. Fla.); (1985), 758 F.2d 1511 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Allred v. Biegel (1949), 240 Mo. App. 818, refd to. [Appendix].

Ferguson v. Ray (1904), 77 P. 600, refd to. [Appendix].

Bateman Trusts, Re (1873), L.R. 15 Eq. 335, refd to. [Appendix].

Ontario (Attorney General) v. Mercer (1883), 8 App. Cas. 767 (P.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

British Columbia (Attorney General) v. Canada (Attorney General) (1889), 14 App. Cas. 295 (P.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Operation Dismantle Inc. et al. v. Canada et al., [1983] 1 F.C. 745; 49 N.R. 363 (F.C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Moore (D.) Co., Re (1928), 1 D.L.R. 383 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Kennedy v. Inman, [1920] 1 W.W.R. 533 (Alta. C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Canada (Attorney General) v. Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia (Attorneys General), [1898] A.C. 700, refd to. [Appendix].

St. Catharine's Milling and Lumber Co. v. R. (1888), 14 App. Cas. 46, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Ontario (Attorney General), [1934] S.C.R. 133, refd to. [Appendix].

Menschefrend's Estate, Re, 128 N.Y.S.2d 738, refd to. [Appendix].

Turton's Estate, Re, 192 N.Y.S.2d 254, refd to. [Appendix].

State by Parsons v. Standard Oil Co., 74 A.2d 598, affd. 341 U.S. 428, refd to. [Appendix].

Standard Oil Co. v. State of New Jersey - see State by Parsons v. Standard Oil Co.

American Petrofina Co. of Texas v. Nance, 859 F.2d 840, refd to. [Appendix].

Gibbs et al. v. Grand Bend (Village) et al. (1995), 86 O.A.C. 321; 26 O.R.(3d) 644 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Eversman v. Ray Shipman Co. (1926), 152 N.E.R. 643 (U.S.), refd to. [Appendix].

Sweeny v. Keystone Driller Co. (1930), 122 O.S. 16, refd to. [Appendix].

Package Sales Co. v. Cincinnati Orchards Co. (1922), 24 Ohio N.P.(N.S.) 313, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Lincoln Mining Syndicate Ltd. (N.P.L.), [1959] S.C.R. 736, refd to. [Appendix].

Illes v. State (1983), 460 N.E.2d 707, refd to. [Appendix].

Couette v. R. (1892), 3 Ex. C.R. 82, refd to. [Appendix].

Tyne Improvement Commissioners v. Armement Anversois S/A, [1949] A.C. 326 (H.L.), refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Bradley, [1941] S.C.R. 270, refd to. [Appendix].

Secretary of State for War v. Wynne, [1905] 2 K.B. 845, refd to. [Appendix].

R. v. Central Railway Signal Co., [1933] S.C.R. 555, refd to. [Appendix].

Ship Cristina, Re, [1938] A.C. 485 (H.L.), refd to. [Appendix].

Heye v. North German Lloyd's (1887), 33 F. 60 (N.Y. Dist. Ct. S.D.), affd. (1886), 36 F. 705 (Cir. Ct. C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Francis v. R., [1956] S.C.R. 618, refd to. [Appendix].

Capital Cities Communications Inc. et al. v. Canadian Radio-Television Commission, [1978] 2 S.C.R. 141; 18 N.R. 181, refd to. [Appendix].

Vapor Canada Ltd. et al. v. MacDonald, [1977] 2 S.C.R. 134; 7 N.R. 477, refd to. [Appendix].

Smith v. Smith, [1923] 2 D.L.R. 896 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Ashley v. Gladden, [1954] 4 D.L.R. 848 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Patrick v. Shedden (1853), 2 E. & B. 14, refd to. [Appendix].

Brokaw v. Seatrain U.K.; United States (Claimants) (1971), 2 All E.R. 98 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

New Zealand (Attorney General) v. Ortiz, [1982] 3 All E.R. 432 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

New Zealand (Attorney General) v. Ortiz, [1984] 1 A.C. 1 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Mecca (City), Re (1881), 6 P.D. 106 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Indian River Recovery Co. v. Ship China (1986), 645 F. Supp. 141 (D.C. Del.), refd to. [Appendix].

State of Florida v. Treasure Salvors Inc. (Treasure Salvors II) (1980), 621 F.2d 1340, refd to. [Appendix].

Industrie Nacional del Papel, C.A. v. M/V Albert F. (1984), 739 F.2d 622 (11th Cir.), refd to. [Appendix].

Church v. Seventeen Hundred and Twelve Dollars (1853), 5 F. Cas. 669 (S.D. Fla.), refd to. [Appendix].

Harley v. Gawley (1871), 11 F. Cas. 527 (2 Sawy. 7), refd to. [Appendix].

Jackson Marine Corp. v. Blue Fox (1988), 845 F.2d 1307 (5th Cir.), refd to. [Appendix].

Martha's Vineyard Scuba H.Q. v. Unidentified Vessel (1987), 833 F.2d 1059, refd to. [Appendix].

Auerbach v. Resorts International Hotel Inc. (1991), 43 Q.A.C. 75; 89 D.L.R.(4th) 688 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Bird v. Fort Frances (Town), [1949] O.R. 292 (H.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Black Gold Potato Sales Inc. v. Garibaldi (1994), 29 C.P.C.(3d) 78 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [Appendix].

Boardwalk Regency Corp. v. Maalouf (1992), 51 O.A.C. 277; 6 O.R.(3d) 737, refd to. [Appendix].

Canada Trustco Mortgage Co. v. Rene Management & Holdings Ltd. (1989), 53 Man.R.(2d) 276; 53 D.L.R.(4th) 222 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Carrick Estates Ltd. et al. v. Young (1987), 59 Sask.R. 39; 43 D.L.R.(4th) 161 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Clinton v. Ford (1982), 137 D.L.R.(3d) 281 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Dovenmuehle Inc. v. Rocca Group Ltd. (1981), 34 N.B.R.(2d) 444; 85 A.P.R. 444 (C.A.), affd. [1982] 2 S.C.R. 534; 44 N.R. 102; 43 N.B.R.(2d) 359; 113 A.P.R. 359, refd to. [Appendix].

Emanuel v. Syman, [1908] 1 K.B. 302 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. v. Vanstone (1992), 88 D.L.R.(4th) 488 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

First National Bank of Oregon v. Harris (1975), 10 O.R.(2d) 516 (Co. Ct.), refd to. [Appendix].

Grafstein v. Holme, [1957] O.R. 354, refd to. [Appendix].

Gulf of Georgia Towing Co. v. Ship Sun Diamond (1977), 17 N.R. 356 (F.C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Harris v. Taylor, [1915] 2 K.B. 580 (P.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Heddle v. Bank of Hamilton, [1912] 19 W.L.R. 897 (B.C. Co. Ct.), refd to. [Appendix].

Iron Mac Towing (1974) Ltd. et al. v. Ships North Arm Highlander and North Arm Express et al. (1979), 28 N.R. 348 (F.C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Ship Juliana, Re (1822), 2 Dods. 504, refd to. [Appendix].

Kelloway v. Engineering Consultants Ltd., [1972] 1 F.C. 932 (T.D.), refd to. [Appendix].

Kowal v. Ellis (1977), 76 D.L.R.(3d) 546 (Man. C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Larsen v. Ship Gas Boat, [1923] 2 D.L.R. 281 (Exch. Ct. B.C. Admiralty Ct.), refd to. [Appendix].

Ship Liffey, Re (1887), 6 Asp. M.L.C. 255 (Eng.), refd to. [Appendix].

North Star Marine Salvage Ltd. v. Muren, [1973] F.C. 50 (T.D.), refd to. [Appendix].

Northland Navigation Co. v. Patterson Boilerworks Ltd., [1983] 2 F.C. 59 (T.D.), refd to. [Appendix].

Pemberton v. Hughes, [1899] 1 Ch. 781 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Richardson v. Allen, [1916] 28 D.L.R. 134 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Sarnia Steamships v. Dominion Foundries & Steel Ltd., [1948] 2 D.L.R. 595, refd to. [Appendix].

Subaqueous Explorations v. Unidentified Vessel, [1984] A.M.C. 913, refd to. [Appendix].

Ship Teh Hu (Owners) et al. v. Nippon Salvage Co., [1969] 3 All E.R. 1200 (C.A.), refd to. [Appendix].

Treasure Salvors Inc. v. Unidentified Wrecked and Abandoned Sailing Vessel (Santa Margarita) et al., [1985] A.M.C. 136, refd to. [Appendix].

Treasure Salvors Inc. v. Unidentified Wrecked and Abandoned Sailing Vessel (Santa Margarita) et al., [1978] A.M.C. 1404, refd to. [Appendix].

Ship Tubantia, Re, [1924] P. 78; Asp. M.L.C. 350, refd to. [Appendix].

Ship Waterloo, Re, [1820] 2 Dods. 433, refd to. [Appendix].

Gulf & Lake Navigation Co. v. Ship Woodford (1955), 5 D.L.R. 16 (S.C.C.), refd to. [Appendix].

Statutes Noticed:

Beds of Navigable Waters Act, R.S.O. 1990, B-4, generally [para. 29].

Canada Shipping Act - see Shipping Act.

Constitution Act, 1867, sect. 109 [para. 28].

Proceedings Against the Crown Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P-27, sect. 19 [para. 52]; sect. 21 [para. 53].

Shipping Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. S-9, generally [para. 7].

Treaty of 1908 (U.S. and Canada), Concerning Reciprocal Rights for the United States and Canada in the conveyance of prisoners and wrecking and salvage, generally [para. 139].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Alexander, Bruce E., Treasure Salvage Beyond the Territorial Sea: An Assessment and Recommendations, Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce (1989), vol. 20, No. 1 [Appendix].

Black's Law Dictionary (6th Ed. 1990) [para. 232].

Broom, Kensley, A Selection of Legal Maxims, generally [Appendix].

Castel, J.G., Canadian Conflict of Laws (3rd Ed. 1993), generally [Appendix]; p. 163 [para. 225].

Castel, J.G., Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Personam and in rem in the Common Law Provinces of Canada, generally [Appendix]; p. 33 [para. 77].

Cheshire, G.C., and North, P.M., Conflict of Laws (12th Ed.), generally [Appendix]; p. 347 [para. 77].

Chitty, Joseph, A Treatise on The Law of the Prerogatives of the Crown (1820), generally [Appendix].

Chorley and Giles, Shipping Law (8th Ed.), generally [Appendix].

Colombos, C. John, The International Law of the Sea (6th Ed.), generally [Appendix].

Corpus Juris Secundum, vols. 1, 21, 30A, 35A, 91 [Appendix]

Da Costa, Mendes, Property Law (2nd Ed.), generally [Appendix].

Decennial Digest (10th), vol. 9, pt. 1, ss. 22, 23, 24, 25 [Appendix].

Dicey and Morris, Conflict of Laws, vol. 1, generally [Appendix]; pp. 455 [para. 77]; 511, 512, 513, 514 [para. 103].

Documents Relating to the Constitutional History of Canada, 1791-1818 (1914), generally [Appendix].

Halsbury's Laws of England (4th Ed. 1976), vol. 1, generally [Appendix]; vol. 1, para. 333; vol. 8, para. 889 [para. 249].

Hogg, Peter W., Constitutional Law of Canada (3rd Ed. 1992), generally [Appendix].

Horton, W.G., The Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Ontario (1988), 10 Adv. Q. 94, p. 94 [Appendix].

Kennedy, Law of Salvage (5th Ed. 1985), generally [para. 258, Appendix].

Lordon, Paul, Crown Law (1991), generally [Appendix].

McWilliams, Douglas L., Salvage of Ancient Treasure Ships, Lloyds Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly (1986), generally [Appendix].

Owen, David, The Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1867: Goodbye to Salvage in the Terrritorial Sea, Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce (1989), vol. 19, no. 4, p. 506 [Appendix].

Oxford English Dictionary (2nd Ed. 1989) [para. 245].

Robol, Richard, Report Concerning Principles of U.S. Admiralty Law on Jurisdiction over Shipwrecks located in Foreign Territorial Waters, generally [para. 175].

Treaties and Agreements Affecting Canada in force between His Majesty and the United States of America, 1814-1925 (1927), generally [Appendix].

Williams, Principles of the Law of Personal Property (24th Ed. 1926), p. 713 [Appendix].

Counsel:

Leah Price and Michel Lapierre, for the Attorney General for Ontario (on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen in right of Ontario);

Robert J. Huston III as agent appointed to represent the interests of Mar-Dive Corporation and Atlantic Western Limited;

D.L. Beard, Q.C., for Michael Lynn Fletcher.

This action was heard before Lissaman, J., of the Ontario Court (General Division), who released the following judgment on December 20, 1996.