Halfhill Tuna Packing Co. v. Fisherman's Exchange Subscribers

CONREY, P. J.

Action to recover on a policy insuring property against loss by fire. Judgment in favor of the defendant, from which judgment the plaintiff appeals.

The policy insured plaintiff’s boat against loss by fire “while operated in the Pacific Ocean south of Monterey Bay on the north, east of 123 degrees west, and north of San Martin Island on the south. ’ ’ The fire and loss occurred at Hassler’s Cove, which is located on the east shore of San Martin Island and near the southerly end of that shore. Evidence was introduced to show that Hassler’s Cove is the only anchorage west of the coast available for the use of fishermen in packing their catch, and that it was the custom of fishermen in the vicinity of San Martin Island to anchor in that cove for that purpose; that about fifteen of the boats belonging to members of defendant association (of whom the plaintiff was one) made a practice of fishing in the vicinity of that island, and all of them used Hassler’s Cove for the purpose of packing their fish.

Basing their argument upon these facts, counsel for appellant seek to establish respondent’s liability by the application of two principles: First, that policies of insurance are to be liberally construed in favor of the assured; second, that a policy of insurance must be construed with relation to those established usages and customs with reference to which the insurance has been issued and which are known to the insurer. Giving full recognition to these principles, and without discussion of the interesting decisions referred to in the briefs, nevertheless we think that they furnish no ground for reversal of the judgment in this case. “The language of a contract is to govern its interpretation, if the language is clear and explicit, and does not involve an absurdity.” (Civ. Code, sec. 1638.) “When a contract is reduced to writing, the intention of the parties is to be ascertained from the writing alone, if possible; subject, however, to the other provisions of this title.” (Civ. Code, sec. 1639.)

[233]

The “other provisions,” however, are not applicable to clear and explicit terms of a contract freely entered into without any attendant circumstances of fraud, mistake or accident. The evidence to the effect that fishermen in the described neighborhood were accustomed to pack their fish at Hassler’s Cove is not evidence connected in any way with this contract of insurance. No attempt was made to show a custom that for the purposes of insurance, or for any purpose, defendant association or any of its members have ever construed the phrase “north of San Martin Island” as inclusive of Hassler’s Cove, or that settlements of loss have been made on that basis. The plain fact' is that the destruction of the vessel did not occur north of that island, and the conclusion necessarily follows that the loss was not covered by the policy.