An admiralty court is a court that has jurisdiction over maritime matters such as salvage, possession and ownership of ships, claims for damage done to or by ships and claims for lost or damaged cargo.
Before 1971, admiralty courts in Canada were called Colonial Courts of Admiralty or Vice-Admiralty Courts. From 1859 to 1971, an admiralty court existed in British Columbia. During the colonial period, local judges were appointed to the Vice-Admiralty Court of England and heard admiralty matters in BC. This system remained in place until 1891 when Canada passed the Admiralty Act, 1891, creating a system of district Admiralty Courts as part of the Exchequer Court of Canada. One of these district courts was in BC. In 1971, the Federal Court replaced the Exchequer Court and is currently the court which hears admiralty matters.
A copy of the Rules, Regulations and Tables of Fees for the Vice Admiralty Court at Vancouver Island as well as a number of other documents are available at the BC Archives.
Legislation:
Admiralty Act, 1891, S.C. 1891, c. 29 (available in Vancouver, Kamloops, Kelowna, New Westminster, Prince George and Victoria courthouse libraries)
An Act to Provide for the Prosecution and Trial in Her Majesty's Colonies of Offences Committed Within the Jurisdiction of the Admiralty, (1849) 12 & 13 Vict., c. 96. Published in vol. 4a of the Revised Statutes of British Columbia 1911 (available in most courthouse libraries)
Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890, 53 & 54 Vict., c. 27. Published in Statutes of Canada 1891 (available in Vancouver, Kamloops, Kelowna, New Westminster, Prince George and Victoria courthouse libraries)
Federal Court Act, S.C. 1970-71-72, c. 1 (available in most BC Courthouse libraries)
Vice-Admiralty Courts Act, 1863, 26 Vict., c. 24. Published in Vol. 4a of the Revised Statutes of British Columbia 1911 (available in most BC courthouse libraries)