137. Appointment of appraisers. If the amount of salvage and expenses on property saved shall not be adjusted by agreement of the parties, the owner or consignee of such property, or the master or supercargo, having charge thereof at the time the same was wrecked, or a claimant having an order for its delivery, may apply to the county court of the county or the city court of a city in which such property shall be, for the appointment of suitable persons as appraisers, to adjust the amount of such salvage and expenses; and such court shall, by an order, appoint three disinterested freeholders of the county, not inhabitants of the town in which the property shall have been saved to adjust such salvage and expenses, who, before they shall enter upon the performance of their duties, shall be sworn to perform faithfully and impartially the duties of their trust. They shall have power to issue compulsory process for the attendance of witnesses, and to administer oaths to all witnesses who shall attend or be produced; and the written decision of the appraisers, or any two of them, as to the amount of salvage and expenses, and the sum to be paid to each person entitled to share in such salvage, or claiming such expenses, shall be final and conclusive. The fees and expenses of the appraisers shall be paid by the person upon whose application they shall have been appointed, and shall be a charge upon the property saved. Each appraiser shall be entitled to five dollars for each day's necessary attendance and expenses.
Last modified: February 3, 2019