B. A. Lott v. Edgar H. Padgett

During the month of February 1937, and for about two years prior thereto, appellee Steffen was in the employ of appellant
Santa Cruz Oil Company in the capacity of watchman or caretaker on board the steamship Prentiss, which lay in navigable waters
at Long Beach, California, tied to a dock. During the period stated the vessel did not go to sea or engage in commerce or
navigation and there was no crew on board her. She was "indefinitely laid up."d