On April 30, 1920, appellee’s drill scow was anchored abreast of Baretto Point excavating materials from the bed of the East River, and, while it lay at anchor, the appellant’s tug Salutation, with six loaded barges, came in contact with the starboard bow of the drill scow, causing damages for which the decree appealed from was entered. The appellant does not seek a reversal of the decision of the trial judge who entered the interlocutory decree holding the appellant’s tug at fault. It does urge, however, that the libel should have been dismissed because appellee has failed to establish any damages resulting from this collision. The special commissioner, to whom the interlocutory decree referred the matter of damages, has found a very substantial amount as damages to the dredge, and his report has won confirmation below.
Upon disputed evidence, the commissioner found that the drill columns were down and damaged by displacement at the top of the drill columns structure from starboard to port, which resulted in bending and fracturing these parts by reason of the weight of the machinery itself. The three drill columns he found were resting on rock at the time of the collision, and the starboard drill columns and the others as well were also down at the time. The commissioner found that the preponderance of evidence established that the damages, for which he made an award of $39,584, were caused by this collision of the Salutation rather than other and subsequent collisions which took place with other vessels. He awarded these damages as the estimated cost of making repairs, even though the repairs were never actually made. Penn. R. R. Co. v. Downer Towing Corp. (C. C. A.) 11 F.(2d) 466; The Edward G. Murray (C. C. A.) 278 F. 895; *338The William E. Ferguson (C. C. A.) 108 F. 984. We need but say that a review of this long record finds ample evidence to justify the eommissioner’sj finding and the confirmation by the court below, and we will affirm such findings. The Perry Setzer (C. C. A.) 299 F. 587; The Clermont (C. C. A.) 287 F. 136; The F. B. Squire (C. C. A.) 248 F. 469.
Interest was allowed by the commissioner, and the District Court from June 9, 1920, the time of the filing of the libel. The case was on the calendar and not tried until October 9, 1924, and the District Court did not enter the interlocutory decree until October 26,1925. The report of the commissioner was filed January 19, 1928, and the final decree was entered January 22, 1929. This unexplained delay in the prosecution of this case should deprive the appellee of interest on the award. Indeed, it was only after a motion conditionally granted to dismiss for lack of prosecution that the case was brought to trial. Such delays are sufficient reason for forfeiting interest. The James McWilliams (C. C. A.) 240 F. 951; The Edward G. Murray (C. C. A.) 278 F. 895. Interest is discretionary in a court of admiralty. Dyer v. Nat. Steam Navigation Co., 118 U. S. 507, 6 S. Ct. 1174, 30 L. Ed. 153; J. G. Gilcrist (D. C.) 173 F. 666; The North Star (D. C.) 140 F. 263. It was an abuse of discretion to allow interest on this award of damages. In view of these delinquencies of the appellee, interest will be allowed only from January 22, 1929, the date of the final decree.'
The decree is modified accordingly.