N.Y. Navigation Law § 137: Appointment of appraisers

§ 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.