1 Excerpted text of opinion with footnotes by the court.

2 43 U.S.C.A. § 1331 et seq; 48 A.J.I.L. Supp. 110 (1954).

3 46 U.S.C.A. § 761 et seq.

4 Underwriters at Lloyds, represented at this litigation by Geoffrey Stewart Bead pursuant to a stipulation.

5 L.S.A.-E.S. 22:655.

6 “Whenever the death of a person shall be caused by wrongful act, neglect, or default occurring on the high seas beyond a marine league from the shore of any State, or the District of Columbia, or the Territories or dependencies of the United States, the personal representative of the decedent may maintain a suit for damages in the district courts of the United States, in admiralty, for the exclusive benefit of the decedent’s wife, husband, parent, child, or dependent relative against the vessel, person, or corporation which would have been liable if death had not ensued.” 46 U.S.C.A. § 761.