Case Name: The Sybil.-Dangerfield et al., Claimants
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1819-02
Citations: 4 Wheat. 98
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Sybil.—Dangerfield et al., Claimants.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Reports
Volume: 17
Pages: 98–100

Head Matter:
(instance court.)
The Sybil.—Dangerfield et al., Claimants.
In a case of civil salvage, where under its peculiar circumstances, the amountof salvage is discretionary, appeals should not be encouraged upon the ground of minute distinctions of merit, nor will the Court reverse the decision of an inferior Court, unless it manifestly appears, that some important error has been committed.
The demand of the ship owners for freight and general average, in such a case, is to be pursued against that portion, of the proceeds of the cargo which is adjudged to the owners of the goods, by a direct libe!, or petition; and not by a claim interposed in the salvage cause.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of South Carolina.
This was a case of civil salvage, in which the District Court decreed a moiety of the net proceeds, as salvage, to be distributed in certain proportions among the^salvors; which was reversed by the Circuit Court on appeal, and one fourth decréed as salvage, to be divided among the respective salvors, in proportions somewhat different from those ordered by the District Court.
The cause was submitted to this Court without argument,

Opinion:
Mr. Chief Justice Marshall
delivered the opi nion of the Court. This is a case, in which, under its- peculiar circumstances, the amount of salvage is ,. . T ' . 1 . &.tl discretionary. . In such cases, it is almost impossible that different minds, contemplating the same subject, should not form different conclüsions as to the amount of salvage to be decreed, and the mode of distribution;. ' Appeals should not be encouraged upon the ground of minute distinctions; nor would this Court choose to reverse the decision óf a Circuit Court, in this class of cases, unless it manifestly appeared, that some important, error had been committed. In this particular case, the Court is well satisfied, both with the amount of salvage decreed by the Circuit Court, and with the mode of distribution ; and the decree is, therefore, affirmed, with costs.
Decree affirmed.
A question afterwards arose, upon a claim of the ship owners for freight, &c.
Mr. Justice Johnson
delivered the opinion of
the Court. In this case, the attention of the Court has been particularly called to the claim" interposed by the ship owners, for. freight and average.
This Court, as at present advised, are very well satisfied that no freight was earned, and that average may have been justly claimed. But in the case then depending, the Circuit Court could not have awarded either of those demands. The question is inter alios. There wás no. pretext for claiming either,, as against the salvors; and the ship owners ought to have pursued their rights- by 'irbe^ oi petition by way of libel, against the portion of the proceeds of the . , . , v j j . ,. rp, cargo which was adjudged to the shippers. 1 hese parties were entitled to be heard upon such a claim, and Could only be called upon to answer in that mode.
But the ship owners are not yet too late to pursue their remedy. The proceeds are still in the possession of the law, and may be subjected to any maritime claim or lien in the Court below.
Claim rejected.