AVERAGE, in maritime law, is general, particular or petty. General average (also called gross) consists of expense purposely incurred, sacrifice made or damage sustained for the common safety of the vessel, freight and cargo, or the two of them, at risk, and is to be contributed for by the several interests in the proportion of their respective values exposed to the common danger, and ultimately surviving, including the amount of expense, sacrifice or damage so incurred in the con tributory value. Indemnity for general av erage loss is, ordinarily stipulated for in policies against the risks in navigation, sub ject, however, to divers modifications and con ditions. Under maritime policies in the usual form, insurers are liable for the contributions, for loss by jettison of cargo, sacrifice of cables, anchors, sails, boats, delay for the purpose of refitting, voluntary stranding, etc. Average particular (also called partial loss) is a loss on the ship, cargo or freight, to be borne by the owner of the subject on which it happens, and is so called in distinction from general average, and, if not total, it is also called a partial loss. It is insured against in marine
policies in the usual forms on ship, cargo or freight, when the action of peril is extraor dinary, and the damage is not mere wear or tear, and on the ship covers loss by sails split or blown away, masts sprung, machinery of steamship disabled, planks started, change of shape by strain, loss of boat, breaking of sheathing or upper works or timbers, damage by collision or stranding, by lightning or fire, or in defense against pirates or enemies, or by hostile or piratical plunder. Petty average con sists of small charges formerly assessed upon the cargo, to wit: anchorage, pilotage, beacon age, towage, quarantine, etc. See MARINE INSURANCE.