Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court January 15, 1864 (Wooster v. Tarr)

Bigelow, C. J.

The question raised in this case is very fully discussed in Blanchard v. Page, 8 Gray, 281, 286, 290-295. It is there stated to be the settled doctrine that a bill of lading is a written simple contract between a shipper of goods and the ship-owner; the latter to carry the goods, and the former to pay the stipulated compensation when the service is performed.