Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 4.djvu/481

 EHBMAN V. STEAM-BHIP BWIFTSUaB. 46Î �that if they had been Bolicited in the morniag to undertake the service for afixed priee they would have agreed to remain, Bo long as the weather was such as in fact it continued to be, along-side the steamer, and work at her for their usual compensation per hour. �Norfolk was only 35 miles off, and in that port there were two wrecking companies, owning powerful steam-vessels, kept for the purpose of rendering assistance to disabled and ■wrecked vessels. Two of these, the Eesolute and the Eescue, started to go to the Swiftsure, one of them at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and the other at 11 o'clock at night. So it appears that the Swiftsure was not lying where she wonld be likely to remain long without assistance if she had signalled for it, or had taken means to communicate with the shore. Al- though, therefore, this is a case of salvage, it is one of a low order of merit, and wanting in those features which chiefly have prompted generous allowance proportioned to the value of the property saved. �It bas been held, and I think rightly, with regard to steam- ers whose regular pursuit is to tow and relieve vessels, and where connected with the service rendered there are no cir- cumstances of unusual danger to life or property, and no nnusual activity, enterprise, or heroism displayed in going ont to render it, that such service should not be regarded as meriting a reward ont of aU relation and proportion to what would have been aceepted upon a contract contingent upon Buccess. The Birdie, 7 Blatchf. 243 ; The H. B. Poster, 1 Abb. Adm. 235, �The allowance in such cases is intended to be sufficiently liberal to make every one concerned eager to perform the Bervice with promptness and energy, and also to encourage the maintenance of steam-vessels sufficiently powerful to make the assistance effective. It would be contrary to the Bpirit of the maritime* law to reduce the salvage compensa- tion below this standard of liberal inducement, and it would equally frustrate its purpose if the allowance should be so large and so out of proportion to the services actually ren- ����