
    BEADLE v. MONROE.
    (Supreme Court, General Term, Fifth. Department.
    April 13, 1893.)
    1. Lease—Construction. ■
    In an action for rent on a lease, the terms of which bound the lessee to pay plaintiff $10 annually for every boat on the premises engaged in fishing, evidence that the lessee informed plaintiff that he had only one boat, and that he did not like the clause with reference to the boats, but that he signed it any way, cannot vary the lease, and.he will be liable to pay for all the boats occupying the premises with his consent, no matter who the owner was.
    2. Same—Action on—Evidence.
    In such action evidence by defendant that he did not owe the rent claimed by plaintiff was incompetent.
    Appeal from Chautauqua county court.
    Action by Dudley H. Beadle against Henry A. Monroe to recover rent. From a judgment of the county court, reversing a judgment in defendant’s favor in a justice’s court, defendant appeals.
    Affirmed.
    Argued before DWIGHT, P. J., and LEWIS, MACOMBER, and HAIGHT, JJ.
    S. W. Mason, for appellant.
    H. C. Kingsbury, for respondent.
   LEWIS, J.

The plaintiff, by a written agreement, leased to the defendant a lot of land in Chautauqua county, having a frontage of 60 feet upon Lake Erie, and extending back a sufficient distance to accommodate the tenant’s business of storing and selling ice, and the business of net fishing, including accommodation for fishing boats. The tenant agreed to pay for the use of the premises $25 a year in case he was able to secure ice for public patronage, and, in addition thereto, $10 annually “for every boat on said premises engaged in the net-fishing business.” The controversy between the parties was over the clause of the lease relating to the use of the premises by boats. The tenant failed to obtain ice, and therefore did not use thepremises for that purpose. The evidence tended to show that he occupied the lot with but one boat, belonging to himself. The owners of three other boats engaged in net fishing, however, occupied the lot from time to time with their boats, and for drying their fishing nets, with the knowledge and consent of the defendant. The defendant purchased the fish which the owners of these three boats caught that season. The defendant paid $10 for the use of the lot for his own boat, but refused to pay for the use of the lot by the three boats belonging to the other fishermen, and the plaintiff instituted summary proceedings to recover the possession of the lot and the $30 rent. The defendant was called as a witness, and offered to testify to. a conversation he had with the plaintiff at the time the lease was executed, with a view of showing what the parties intended by the clause in the lease relating to the use of the premises by the boats. The plaintiff objected, the objection was overruled, and the witness testified that when the plaintiff read the lease to him, before it was executed, he objected to this boat clause, and informed the plaintiff that he had but one boat, and that he did not like the clause in reference to paying for the use of the lot by boats engaged in fishing, but, notwithstanding his objections, signed the lease. He testified that he used the lot for but one boat that he owned or had any interest in. This evidence in no manner tended to alter or explain the lease. The lease stated in plain and unambiguous language that the defendant was tó pay $10 rent for every boat on the premises engaged in the net-fishing business. This obligated him to pay for all the boats which occupied the lot with his consent, no matter who the owner was. The defendant was permitted, over the objection of the plaintiff, to testify that he did not owe the rent claimed by the plaintiff. This evidence was incompetent and improper, and quite likely influenced the jury in finding a verdict for the defendant. The evidence quite clearly established the plaintiff’s claim, and we agree with the county court that errors were committed upon the trial before the justice, requiring a reversal of the justice’s judgment. The judgment of the county court appealed from should be affirmed, with costs. All concur.  