(U.  S.  C.  C),  282.    Ordinarily  parol  evidence  will  not  be  ad-
mitted to  vary  the  terms  or  legal  effect  of  a  bill  of  lading,  con-
I       sidered  as  a  contract  between  the  parties  to  it,  although,  it
seems,  that  as  a  receipt  for  the  goods  it  may  be  contradicted
by  oral  testimony.    The  Delaware,  14  Wall.,  579.    It  is  sufficient
a  the  shipper  accepts  the  carrier's  bill  of  lading  without  himself
signing  it.    It  becomes  binding  upon  him  by  his  acceptance,  he
being  presumed  to  know  and  accept  the  conditions  of  the  written
bill  of  lading.    The  bill  of  lading  is  regarded  as  representative
of  the  goods  while  they  are  in  the  carrier's  possession.    It  is  not
a  negotiable  instrument  in  the  common  acceptation  of  the  term,
but  it  may  be,  and  frequently  is,  made  negotiable  in  form  and
thus  becomes  invested  with  peculiar  attributes  of  great  practi-
cal importance  commercially.
Liability  of  Common  Carriers  Under  the  Federal  Statutes.
