§ 7660. 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 7658 of this title;
(3) take promptly, in the manner prescribed by section 7661 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.