CAPE MAY - A scallop boat that sank off the South Jersey coast in March, killing six of the seven crew members on board, was supposed to return to port that day, its owner said yesterday.

Capt. Royal Smith Sr. broke down at a Coast Guard hearing as he testified that the Lady Mary was just a few bags short of what its crew wanted to get from the sea before heading back to Cape May. The Bayboro, N.C., man lost two sons and a brother in the tragedy.

"They were supposed to be coming in Tuesday," he said, referring to the morning of March 24, when the trawler went down 60 miles at sea after nearly a week away.

Smith became emotional and was unable to continue, prompting a recess in the hearing. He turned from Coast Guard officers sitting at a table and rocked from foot to foot, wiping his eyes.

It was the second time Smith broke down while discussing his sons, Royal Jr. and Timothy. He was unable to continue for a time when he first testified before the Coast Guard panel in May.

The hearing was recessed for the summer to allow divers to recover evidence from the boat.

Smith's lawyer said he believed the vessel was struck by another boat that left the scene. That scenario is one of several being evaluated.

After regaining his composure, Smith yesterday recalled times when boats came perilously close to his, possibly unknown to their captains.

"There might be a boat steaming right for you and there's no man in the wheelhouse," he said. "I had that happen more than once."

Smith testified that the boat's dredge, found with the sunken ship, had 10 to 12 bushels of scallops in it. He said the crew wanted to get a bit more before heading back.

"It was a good catch," he said ruefully.

On Monday, a Massachusetts boat captain testified that he might have heard a faint mayday call over the radio early on May 24.