VPRS 5375 Prize Court Minute Book

Admiralty jurisdiction is concerned with shipping disputes. Until 1890 with the passing of the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act (UK) which made all colonial courts of law which had unlimited civil jurisdiction a court of admiralty, the Supreme Court was made a Vice-Admiralty Court of the British one. The 1890 Act is the basis for the admiralty jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. This jurisdiction extended to include Prize Courts set up to deal with the seizure of enemy vessels or cargo consigned to the enemy during time of war.This series gives the Minutes of the proceedings in the Prize Court established during World War I. Most of the seizures and thus the commencement of proceedings were in 1914 and 1915 although many procedures continued for some considerable time. Details are given of the name of the vessel and of the master and then, by date, the proceedings before the Court in relation to the vessel.