§ 8860 — Duties Of Prize Commissioners

One or more of the prize commissioners shall— (1) receive from the prize master the documents and papers of the captured vessel and the inventory thereof; (2) take the affidavit of the prize master required by section 8858 of this title; (3) take promptly, in the manner prescribed by section 8861 of this title, the testimony of the witnesses sent in; (4) take, at the request of the United States attorney, on interrogatories prescribed by the court, the depositions de bene esse of the prize crew and others; (5) examine and inventory the prize property; (6) apply to the court for an order to the marshal to unload the cargo, if this is necessary to that examination and inventory; (7) report to the court, and notify the United States attorney, whether any of the prize property requires immediate sale in the interest of all parties; (8) report to the court, from time to time, any matter relating to the condition, custody, or disposal of the prize property requiring action by the court; (9) return to the court sealed and secured from inspection— (A) the documents and papers received, duly scheduled and numbered; (B) the preparatory evidence; (C) the evidence taken de bene esse; and (D) their inventory of the prize property; and (10) report to the Secretary of the Navy, if, in their judgment, any of the prize property is useful to the United States in the prosecution of war.