The series consists almost entirely of records created and/or maintained by the Exchequer Court of Canada in the Nova Scotia Admiralty District at Halifax, Nova Scotia, between 1884 and 1971. The series contains Caveat Books that begin in 1884; however, the first case files begin in 1907. Some actions continued past 1971 and were maintained by the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, which inherited jurisdiction over Admiralty matters from the Exchequer Court in 1971.
Matters heard in the Nova Scotia Admiralty Court include actions for damages caused by collisions, damages to cargo, recovering possession of ships, compensation for necessaries supplied, compensation for salvage or towage services rendered, recovering unpaid wages and disbursements, money due on mortgages, and breaching contracts regarding the use or hire of a ship. During the years of the First World War and the Second World War, there were a number of prize cases heard in the Nova Scotia Admiralty Court. Ships that were occupied during wartime were often seized as prizes, and the cases were heard in the Admiralty Court.
The most common records that were created through the course of the legal proceedings include preliminary acts issued by the parties at the time of the collision, if applicable, writs of summons, which detail the particulars of the plaintiff's claim, as well as affidavits, minutes of filing, bail bonds, statements of claim, statements of defence, caveats, demands for particulars, depositions, contents of the record, memoranda of settlement, subpoenas, and minutes of decree. The case files contain notices, or documents filed by the solicitors of the plaintiff and the defendant formally notifying the parties of the legal process. Orders were issued as formal written directions of the Court, for example: scheduling a trial, issuing warrants for arrest of vessels, releasing arrested vessels, for examination of witnesses, inspecting cargo, appointing appraisers, releasing exhibits to counsel, and making payments.
This series contains several exhibits that were used by the plaintiffs or defendants to prove their case. These exhibits include maps of the regions where collisions occurred, technical drawings of ships, photographs of damages to wharves or ships, and ship papers such as log books or movement books.
The Nova Scotia Admiralty Court has several books that contain information regarding the cases that were heard in the Court. These books include record books, docket and court fees records, and minute books.
