This is never merely pay, or in the nature of wages. It is always a reward. (m) The amount is determined by the danger incurred, by the skill manifested, by the difficulty of the service, and by its duration. (n) There is for no case a fixed rule; but admiralty is much influenced by the numerous precedents * in adjudged cases. (o) Still the court judges for itself as to the applicability of the precedents. And it has been said, that the precedents of ocean salvage are not applicable with much force to salvage claims for services rendered on our western rivers. (p)

In a case of unquestionable derelict, while there is no absolute rule, it may be said, that very seldom would less than one third or more than half of the property saved, be given. (q)

It is held, that admiralty will not decree salvage for saving life alone. (r) It would then indeed have no property for its decree to take effect upon. But the saving of life is always considered, if it be connected with the saving of the property for which a claim is made. (s)

As the whole amount of salvage compensation is subject to no absolute rule, so neither is its distribution. Generally, however,

(k) The Ship Henry Ewbank, 1 Sumner, 408.

(l) The Ship Henry Ewbank, 1 Sumner, 400; The Sch. Boston, 1 Sumner, 328; Hessian v. The Edward Howard, 1 Newb. Adm. 522.

(m) The Sarah, 1 Rob. Adm. 313, note; The William Beckford, 3 Rob. Adm. 865; The Hector, 3 Hagg. Adm. 95; Mason v. The Blaireau, 2 Cranch, 266.

(n) The Ebenezer, 8 Jurist, 386; The Wm. Hannington, 9 Jurist, 631; The Wm. Beckford, 3 Rob. Adm. 355; The Brig Susan, Sprague, 604.

(o) The Thetis, 3 Hagg. Adm. 62; The Adventure, 8 Cranch, 221.

(p) McGinnis v. Steamboat Pontiac, 1 Newb. Adm. 130, 6 McLean, C. C. 369.

(q) Tyson v. Prior, 1 Gallis. 136; Post v. Jones, 19 How. 161; The Elwell Grove, 3 Hagg. Adm. 221. The old rule used to be to give one half the property saved in a case of derelict; but there fs now no fixed rule, although this is usually given. The Aquila, 1 Rob. Adm. 46; The Florence, 20 Eng. L. & Eq. 607; Poet v. Jones, 19 How. 161; Rowe v. Brig the owners of the saving ship receive one third of the amount decreed. (t) The master receives about twice as much as is given to the mates; and the mates receive more than is given to the sailors.

-, 1 Mason, 377; Barrels of Oil, coast, and some pilots at the peril of their lives, being unable to board her, by preceding and signalling brought her safely to anchorage. Akerblom v. Price, etc. Co. 7 Q. B. D. 129.

Sprague, 91.

(r) The Zephyrus, 1 W. Rob. 329.

(s) The Aid, 1 Hagg. Adm. 83; The Emblem, Daveis, 61; Barrels of Oil, Sprague, 91. See the Merchants' Shipping Act of 17 & 18 Vict. c. 104, § 469; The Bartley, 1 Swabey, Adm. 198; The Coromandel, id. 206; The Clarisse, id. 129.

Salvage compensation is allowed generally on all the property saved; on the ship, the cargo, (u) and the freight. (v) Where public property is saved, there is no authority for saying that a claim would be allowed for saving a government vessel, or a libel on the vessel sustained. But if a cargo is saved, the goods of government might perhaps pay the same rate as those of individuals. (w) The exceptions to this general liability to salvage * appear to be in favor of the mails, (x) and perhaps ships of war of the government of the saving ship, (y) of clothing left by master and crew, (z) of money on the person of a dead man, (a) of bills of exchange, (b) of evidences of debt, and of documents of title.

6. Of Salvage by Public Armed Ships

This is demandable of right for property saved from pirates, or from a public enemy, (c) or by a recapture. (d) In these cases the amount and the distribution are generally regulated by statute. (e) But no salvage is allowed except to a ship actually assisting in the service of salvage. (f)