§ 8860. Duties of prize commissioners

receive from the prize master the documents and papers of the captured vessel and the inventory thereof;

take the affidavit of the prize master required by section 8858 of this title;

take promptly, in the manner prescribed by section 8861 of this title, the testimony of the witnesses sent in;

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;

examine and inventory the prize property;

apply to the court for an order to the marshal to unload the cargo, if this is necessary to that examination and inventory;

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;

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;

return to the court sealed and secured from inspection—

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.