§ 137 — Appointment of appraisers

§ 137. Appointment of appraisers. If the amount of salvage and\nexpenses on property saved shall not be adjusted by agreement of the\nparties, the owner or consignee of such property, or the master or\nsupercargo, having charge thereof at the time the same was wrecked, or a\nclaimant having an order for its delivery, may apply to the county court\nof the county or the city court of a city in which such property shall\nbe, for the appointment of suitable persons as appraisers, to adjust the\namount of such salvage and expenses; and such court shall, by an order,\nappoint three disinterested freeholders of the county, not inhabitants\nof the town in which the property shall have been saved to adjust such\nsalvage and expenses, who, before they shall enter upon the performance\nof their duties, shall be sworn to perform faithfully and impartially\nthe duties of their trust. They shall have power to issue compulsory\nprocess for the attendance of witnesses, and to administer oaths to all\nwitnesses who shall attend or be produced; and the written decision of\nthe appraisers, or any two of them, as to the amount of salvage and\nexpenses, and the sum to be paid to each person entitled to share in\nsuch salvage, or claiming such expenses, shall be final and conclusive.\nThe fees and expenses of the appraisers shall be paid by the person upon\nwhose application they shall have been appointed, and shall be a charge\nupon the property saved. Each appraiser shall be entitled to five\ndollars for each day's necessary attendance and expenses.\n