WRECKS AND SALVAGE. — !rends in distress. — If a British or foreign vessel is wrecked, stranded, or in distress at any place on the coasts of the United Kingdom, or any tidal water within its limits, it is the duty of the local receiver of wreck to proceed there at once and take the command of all persons present. There he assigns such dirties to each person as he thinks fit for the preservation of the vessel and of the lives of the persons belonging to her, and of her cargo and apparel. Any person wilfully disobey ing the direction of the receiver is liable for each offence to a fine of 4.'50 ; but the receiver must not, unless requested to do so by the master, interfere between him and the crew in the management of the vessel. The receiver has power, with a view to the preservation of shipwrecked persons, to require any person to assist him ; to require the masters of vessels near at hand to aid hi ; and to demand the use of carts and horses near at hand. Non-com pliance with any such requirement or demand will entail a fine of 1100. He also has power to pass arid repass over adjoining lands for the purposes named ; any damage caused thereby being a charge on the vessel and cargo, and any owner or occupier of land impeding him is liable to a like fine. The receiver may suppress plunder and disorder by force, and command assistance in such suppression by all his Majesty's subjects. Where a vessel wrecked, stranded, or in distress, or any part of her cargo and apparel is plundered, damaged, or destroyed by any persons riotously and tumultuously assembled together, compensation is payable to the respective owners out of the rates. Various persons, where a receiver is not present, nifty do anything authorised to be done by the receiver. Where a ship, British or foreign, is or has been in distress on the coasts of the United Kingdom, a receiver of wrecks, a wreck commissioner, or a justice of the peace is required to examine upon oath any person belonging to the ship or who may be able to give any information as to the circumstances and particulars. Dealing with
here any person finds or takes possession of any wreck (which expression includes jetsam, flotsam, lagan, and derelict found in or on the shores of the sea or any tidal water) within the limits of the United Kingdom, he must, (a) if he is the owner, give notice thereof to the receiver of the district stating that he has found or taken such possession, and describing the inarks by which the wreck may be recognised ; (b) if he is not the owner, as soon as possible deliver the wreck to the receiver. If any person fails without reasonable cause to comply with this requirement, he is for each offence liable to a fine of .V100; and in addition, if he is not the owner, forfeits any claim to salvage, and is liable to pay to the owner of the wreck, if it is claimed, or if it is unclaimed to the person entitled to thee same, double the value thereof, to be recovered in the same way as a tine of a like amount. When a vessel is wrecked, stranded, or in distress within, the said limits, any cargo or other articles belonging to her which may be washed ashore must be delivered to the receiver, and any person, whether the owner or not, secreting or keeping possession of, or refusing to deliver up the same, is liable for each offence to a penalty of
wreck in his custody, if in his opinion (a) it is under the value of 1)5, or (h) it is so much damaged or of so perishable a nature that it cannot with advantage be kept, or (c) it is not of sufficient value to pay for warehousing. The proceeds of the•sale, after defraying the expenses, are held by the receiver for the same purposes and subject to the same claims, rights and liabilities, as if the wreck had remained unsold. Unclaimed
Crown is entitled to unclaimed wreck, except in cases of special grant. Where any admiral, vice-admiral, lord of the manor, heritable proprietor duly infeft, or other person is entitled for his own use to unclaimed wreck found on any place within the district of a receiver, he is required to deliver to the receiver a statement containing the particulars of his title, and an address to which notices may be sent. When a statement has been so delivered and the title proved, the receiver will, on taking possession of any wreck found at a place to which the statement refers, within forty-eight hours send to the address delivered a description of the wreck and of any marks by which it is dis tinguished. Where no owner establishes a claim to any wreck found in the United Kingdom, and in the possession of a receiver, within one year after it came into his possession, the wreck is dealt with as follows : (1) if the wreck is claimed by any admiral, vice-admiral, lord of a manor, heritable proprietor, or other person who has delivered such a statement, and has proved his title as above mentioned, the wreck, after payment of all expenses, costs, fees, and salvage, is delivered to him; (2) if the wreck is not claimed by any such person, the receiver sells the same and pays the proceeds (after deducting expenses, fees, and salvage) for the benefit of the Crown. Where any dispute arises between any such person and the receiver respecting title to wreck found at any place, or where more than one claim title and a dispute arises between them as to that title, that dispute may be referred and determined in the same manner as if it were a dispute as to salvage to be determined summarily under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. If any party to the dispute is unwilling to have the same so referred and determined. or is dis satisfied with the decision on that determination, he may within three months after the expiration of a year from Ole time when the wreck came into the receiver's hands, or from the date of the decision, take proceedings in any court having jurisdiction in the mratter for establishing his title. Upon delivery of wreck or payment of the proceeds of sale of wreck by a receiver, he is discharged of all liability in respect thereof. But the delivery thereof does not prejudice or affect any question which may be raised by third parties concerning the right or title to the wreck, or concerning the title to the soil of the place on which the wreck was found. The Board of Trade has power, with the consent of the Treasury, to purchase on behalf of the Crown any rights to wreck possessed by any' person other than his Majesty. No admiral or other person exercising Admiralty jurisdiction has power as such to inter fere with any wreck, except as authorised by the above-mentioned Act. Removal of wreck.—Harbour and conservancy authorities have power, where any vessel is sunk, stranded, or abandoned m any harbour or tidal water under their control, to take possession of, raise, remove, or destroy the same ; also to light or buoy and seil the same, paying the proceeds, after reimburs ing themselves their expenses, to the persons entitled thereto. Lighthouse authorities have somewhat similar powers. The term " vessel " here used includes cargo, everything forming part of the tackle, equipments, cargo, stores, or ballast of a vessel. Disputes between harbour or conservancy authorities and general lighthouse authorities as to their respective powers for the removal of wrecks are, on the application of either party, referred to the decision of the Board of Trade, which decision is final. These powers of a harbour, conservancy, or lighthouse authority for the removal of wrecks are in addition to any other powers for a like object.