The salvage service most liberally rewarded is that of saving "derelict" property. This word simply means abandoned. As a maritime term, used in salvage law, it means a vessel or cargo abandoned and deserted by the master and crew, with no purpose of returning to it, and no hope of saving or recovering it themselves. (l) If the master and crew remain on board, although they give up the possession and control to the salvors, it is not derelict. (m) On the other hand, if the master and crew have left the vessel, a mere intention to send assistance to her would not prevent the ship from being derelict. (n) And if the vessel be deserted, it will be presumed to be derelict, unless an intention to return be proved on the part of those who left her, or some of them. (o) A ship or a cargo sunk, is considered derelict; but not if the owner had not lost the hope and purpose of recovering his property, and had not ceased his efforts for that purpose. (p) So are goods floating from the vessel out to sea; not, however, if the goods are on the water, and the master is endeavoring to save them. (q) At common law, a finder of property has title against all the world, except the owner. The admiralty practice, however, in one district of * this country, in respect to property derelict and saved, is to keep the balance of the proceeds a year and a day, that is, more than a year, after the salvage compensation is paid out of the proceeds: and then, if no owner appears, to pay the balance to the finder. (r) But if the case appears to demand it, the court may require from the finder bonds to restore this balance to the owner, whenever he appears and claims it.

(f) Lipson v. Harrison, 24 Eng. L. & Eq 208.

(g) Box of Bullion, 8prague, 67; The Missouri's Cargo, id. 272; The Amethyst, Daveis, 20; The Maria, Edw. Adm. 175.

(h) The Charlotte, 3 W. Rob. 71. (i) Hand v. The Elvira, Gilpin, 67. (j) Stephens v. Bales of Cotton, Bee, 170.

(k) Ibid.

1 The Strathnaver, 1 App. Cas. 58.