What is the general rule of law on a claim for total loss of a ship?

There is a manifest difficulty in stating any general rule that would be applicable to all cases, and no such rule appears to have been clearly stated by the courts; but analogous cases afford some light on the subject. In the case of Murray v. Hatch, 6 Mass. 465, the action was upon a policy of insurance upon a ship, her cargo and freight, against total loss only. The vessel was cast ashore, but afterward got off and carried into a port where repairs were practicable. The agent of the owner proceeded to strip the vessel, to sell the hull and cargo, and to abandon the voyage. The court, passing upon the question of total loss, said: