Prize, Prize-money,

Prize, Prize-money, property captured from an enemy; but the term is generally applied exclusively to property taken at sea. As between the belligerent powers themselves the property in a ship or other thing captured passes at once by the mere capture to the captor. Up to the close of the Crimean war all property of an enemy even when carried in a neutral ship was liable to capture, as also was the property of a neutral if captured on board a belligerent ship. This involved a claim to the right of searching neutral ships, a claim which Britain was only able to enforce during the great war with France in consequence of her mastery of the sea; it was a right, however, which was continually being disputed, and the enforcement of it in the case of American ships led repeatedly to difficulties with the United States. When the treaty of Paris was signed in 1856 it was universally agreed that private property in neutral bottoms so long as it is not contraband of war should no longer be liable to capture (see NEUTRALITY, ENEMY, BLOCKADE). Army prize-money is distributed according to the provisions of the Army Prize Act of 1832; a list of those entitled to share being sent to Chelsea Hospital, whose treasurer makes the distribution. In naval cases, a ship taken must be sent to a port belonging to the capturing power, where the Court of Admiralty, on full evidence, adjudicates whether she be lawful prize or not. If the decision be affirmative the prize is then sold; or, if a ship-of-war, a certain allowance is granted by the state. The produce of the sale or grant is lodged in the hands of the Accountant-general of the Navy, for distribution to the officers and men who assisted at the capture. The net produce of the sale or grant is first divided rateably among any ships (if there be more than one) concerned in the capture. If under the orders of a flag-officer, he receives one-thirtieth part of the whole; the commanding officer then receives one-tenth part of the remainder, or of the whole if no flag is present; or, if there is more than one ship present, one-tenth part is divided between the commanding officers. After provision has thus been made for the flag (if any) and for the portion of the commanding officer or officers, the remainder of the proceeds is so distributed that each officer, man, and boy shall receive shares or a share: commanders and officers of similar rank receive forty-five shares each; lieutenants and officers of similar rank, from forty shares to thirty according to seniority; sub-lieutenants, &c., twenty shares each; midshipmen, &c., twelve shares; naval cadets, ten shares; chief petty officers, twelve shares; first-class petty officers, ten shares; second-class petty officers, seven shares; able seamen, four shares; ordinary seamen, two shares; and boys, one share each. Warburton's Prince Rupert (vol. iii.) gives an interesting distribution of prize-money in the 17th century.