illuminated. The statement made to the Coast Guard 18 hours after the accident indicated that Captain Miles thought the rear light was onthis statement's accuracy affirmed to the best of his knowledge when read at trial. His deposition testimony, however, revealed that he believed the front light was illuminated.
Regarding the lights' wiring, Captain Miles testified that one switch on the control console turned on one mast light and the top light, while the other switch turned on the other mast light. These off-on switches were labelled "mast light" and "trawl light." Captain Miles' trial testimony indicated his ignorance as to which switch controlled which light. At his deposition, however, Captain Miles stated that the mast light switch operated the green light and the rear white light; the trawllight switch thus controlled the front light. The deposition testimony, brought out during cross-examination, further revealed that Captain Miles had turned on the trawl light switch, illuminating the front light.
Rufus Jones, the JET SET deckhand, testified that one switch controlled both white mast lights. He recalled seeing only the front light illuminated on the night of the accident, stating that the back light had apparently burned out. Yet this conflicts with Captain Miles' reason for not turning on both lights; he stated that he used only one light in order to save battery power. Mr. Davis confirmed Mr. Jones' testimony by stating that the two white lights were controlled by one switch while the other switch turned on the top light. Mr. Davis further testified that the electrician