José Luis Zamora Manzano,
Silverste Bello Rodríguez
Marine rescue and assistance in
Roman Law
Studia Prawnoustrojowe nr 9, 5-28
2009
2009
S tu d ia i a rtyk u ly
J o se Luis Zamora M anzano
S ilvestre B ello R odriguez
S p a in
Marine rescue and assistance in Roman law*
M a r in e re s c u e is, g e n e ra lly , a b r o a d a c tiv ity a im e d a t r e tr ie v in g , re m o v in g , s a v in g o r a s s is tin g a v e s s e l to g e th e r w ith a ll its goods, s u p p lie s a n d c re w in c ir c u m s ta n c e s c a u s e d b y v a r io u s a c c id e n ts s u c h a s r u n n i n g a g ro u n d , b e a c h in g , c o llid in g o r c r a s h in g 1. T h is le g a l in s titu tio n o f g r e a t im p o rta n c e in o u r c u r r e n t L a w h a s its o rig in s in R o m a n la w in th e le g is la tio n o f n a u fr a g iu m , w h ic h does n o t in v o lv e a n e w c a te g o ry o r a s e p a r a te b r a n c h in civ il2 law.
W e w o u ld lik e to d is c u s s so m e a s p e c ts t h a t r e l a t e to m a r in e re s c u e in R o m a n law , fo c u sin g o n r e m o v a l a n d s a lv a g e o f goods o n b e h a lf o f in d iv id u a ls a s w e ll a s b y u r in a to r e s 3, d iv e rs t h a t w e re in c h a rg e o f th e re m o v a l o f
* First of all, I would like to thank the opportunity offered to us by Professor Dr. Broni sław Sitek for publishing this work and his invitation to presented it at the 2nd International, Roman and Comparative Law in the Faculty of Law and Administration University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. I would also like to express my gratitude for her help in translating my work into English to Sonia Daswani.
1 Moschetti, see. Naufragio E.D., 547-558; Scialoja N.D.I., VII, 1939, 865 and see my monograph Averias y accidentes en Derecho maritimo romano, Madrid 2000, p. 75-147 on some aspects of this incident.
2 Huvelin, Etudes d'histoire du Droit Comercial Romain, Paris 1929, p. 78 foll. locates the inexistent autonomy in commercial law as a separate branch from civil law “jamais les juri sconsultes n’ ont songé à séparer doctrinalement le droit commercial du reste du droit privé. On manque même d’ un mot technique pour désigner le commerce” by also quoting Goldschimidt this stands out how the idea of a separate commercial branch does not go with the trend of the Romans towards abstraction and centralization of law (Universalgeschicte des Handelsrechts, 71) la tendance énergique des Romains vers abstraction et la centralisation”. About this point also see G. Sautel, Essai sur la notion romaine de Commercium à epoque ancienne, Etudes de Droit Romain, Paris 1952.
3 Oleson, A posible Physiological Basis for the Term urinator, “diver”, The American Jour nal of Philology, vol. 97 (1), Spring 1976, p. 22-29. Also on the online magazine: <www.jstor.org/ stable/294109> (consulta: 16.04.2008) suggest a maximum working depth between 30 and 40 m, who participated in the construction and maintenance of submarine foundations for bridges or harbour works, inspected damaged boats and anchorages, and specialized in the shallow water salvage incident upon heavy commercial harbour activity.
s u n k e n o b jects. A lo n g w ith th e to p ic o f re m o v a l, w e w ill a n a ly s e th e a s s i s t a n ce g iv e n b y th e s c a p h a r ii o r b o a tm e n .
W e w ill s t a r t off fro m a n im p o r ta n t p re m ise , in R o m a n la w th e r e trie v a l a n d th e re m o v a l o f w re c k a g e is la w fu l a s sh o w n in U lp ia n u s libr. V III d e off. Proc., D .47.9.12 p r L icere u n ic u iq u e n a u fr a g iu m s u u m im p u n e coligere, constant; id q u e Im p e ra to r A n to n in u s c u m D ivo p a tr e suo rescripsit. A n to n in u s a lre a d y p e rm its re m o v a ls a n d p ro te c ts th e r e tr ie v a l o f w reck ag e. H ow ever, th is w a s n o t alw a y s th is w ay a s le g a l conflicts e x iste d t h a t w e re solved in th e R o m a n c a s u is tr y d is tin g u is h in g je ts a m a n d re tr ie v a l o f objects from a b a n d o n m e n t o f goods.
A lth o u g h , th e s t r u c t u r e o f a le g a l s y s te m t h a t r e g u la te s a n d p r o te c ts s h ip w re c k s w a s d e v e lo p e d g ra d u a lly . I n fa c t, i n th e f ir s t s ta g e , t h e w re c k a g e s s u ffe re d c o n tin u o u s p illa g in g a s t h e o b je c ts t h a t w e re s w e p t b a c k to th e c o a s t b y th e s e a b e lo n g e d to th o s e t h a t fo u n d th e m , e v e n th e s h ip w re c k e d w e re t u r n e d in to s la v e s 4. To a v o id th e s e in to le r a b le c o n s e q u e n c e s , a n e d ic t w a s e n a c te d w ith th e a im o f p r o te c tin g th e p e o p le a n d th e goods fro m th e s e m a r in e c a ta s tr o p h e s 5. T h e re fo re , in a n e d ic t b y th e e m p e r o r H a d r ia n , a ll a c ts o f la r c e n y a n d p illa g e 6 in s h ip w re c k s w e re p u r s u e d , C a llis tr a tu s lib r II. Q u a e s tio n u m , D .47.9.7:
Ne qu id ex naufragis deripiatur, vel quis extraneus interveniat colligendis iis, m u ltifa ria m prospectum est; nam et D ivus H adrianus Edicto praecepit, u t hi, qui iuxta litora m aris possident, scirent, si quando navis vel inflicta, vel fracta inter fines agri cuiusque fuerit, ne naufragia diripiant, in ipsos iudicia Praesides his, q u ir res sua direptas queruntur, reddituros, u t quid q u id probaverint adem tum sibi naufragio, id a possesoribus recipiant; de his autem , quos diripuisse probatum sit, Praesidem u t de latronibus gravem sententiam dicere. Ut facilior sit probatio huiusm odi adm issi per- m isit his, et qu id q u id passos se huiusm odi queruntur, adire Praefectos, et ad eum testari reosque petere, u t pro modo culpae vel vincti, vel sub fideiussoribus ad Praesi dem rem ittantur. A dom ino quoque possessionis, in qua id a d m issu m dicatur, satis accipi, ne cognitioni desit, praecipitur. S ed nec intervenire naufragiss colligendis aut m ilitem , a u t privatum , a u t libertum servumve Principis, placere sibi a it Senatus.
T h e te x t r e v e a ls th e R o m a n ’s c o n c e rn a s r e g a r d in g d ir e p tio ex n a u fra g io . C a llis tr a tu s a lr e a d y e m p h a s iz e s th e e x is te n c e o f H a d r i a n ’s E d ic t w ith w h ic h th e y t r i e d to av o id la r c e n y 7 o f goods fro m s h ip w re c k s , b e a r in g i n m in d t h a t
4 Rougé, La marine dans l'antiquité, Paris 1975, p. 160. In relation to tax law in the cases of shipwreck and the study of D.14.2.9 see G. Purpura, Relitti di navi e diritto del fisco:una congettura sulla lex Rhodia, Studi Romanistici in tema di diritto commerciale marittimo, Mesi- na, 1966, p. 69 foll.
5 Gandolfo, La nave nel diritto romano (1883, reed.), Genova 1980, p.196.
6 For the procedural aspects on the investigation and protests as described in the Codex Iustinianus C.11.6 and in the Theodosian Code 13.9 see J. Zamora, Averias..., p. 88-101 and also in La prueba testifical aplicada la investigaciôn de los naufragios segun algunas constitu- ciones postclasicas, Actas Congreso VI Iberoamericano y III Internacional de Derecho Romano, Madrid, 2000, p. 785 foll.
7 He already talks about precautionary measures as regards penal suppression of this type of pillages, bearing in mind that there exist innumerable imperial orders and senado-consultum. Balzarini, Ricerche in tema di danno violento e rapina nel diritto romano, Padova 1963, p. 213.
th e o w n e rs o f th e l a n d s b y t h e c o a s tlin e c o u ld b e c a lle d a s w itn e s s e s y th e r e f o r e , g u a r a n t e e th e r e tr ie v a l o f w re c k a g e 8. B u t th i s w a s n ’t a n is o la te d r u le d e s ig n e d to p r o te c t th e o w n e rs h ip o f goods a n d o th e r o b je c ts o f th e s h ip w re c k . W e w ill h a v e th e c h a n c e to s e e so m e o f th e s e le g a l p ro b le m s t h a t w e re b r o u g h t u p c e n tr e d a r o u n d t h e r i g h t to re s c u e .
1. An ap roxim ation to salvage in R om an law: p rotection
and g u ard ian sh ip o f w reck a g e ag a in st an illeg itim a te
seizu re
R o m a n le g is la tio n c h a n n e lle d th e p ro b le m s d e riv e d fro m s h ip w re c k s in v a r io u s m a n n e r s , b u t th e y w e re a lw a y s in v e s tig a te d 9 a s m a n y tim e s th e y w e re c a u s e d d eceitfu lly . S o m e tim e s b y s te a lin g th e n a v ig a tio n i n s t r u m e n t s 10 a n d o th e r s b y le a d in g th e v e s s e l w ith lig h ts fro m th e c o a s t s im u la tin g t h a t th e y w e re g u id in g i t s a fe ly a n d in s te a d , c a u s in g a n a c c id e n t a g a in s t t h e r e e f r e s u ltin g in s in k in g 11. W ith th i s o u tlo o k , th e R o m a n m a r in e s a lv a g e c o o rd i n a t e s w e re lo c a te d in th e p e n a l a r e a a s a ll th o s e c r im in a l b e h a v io u r s t h a t m a d e t h e m o s t o f th e s e c ir c u m s ta n c e s b y p illa g in g v e s s e ls w e re p e n a liz e d . T h e re fo re , a n e d ic t w a s e n a c te d t h a t p u n is h e d th e s e h a r m f u l a c ts w ith th e a im o f g u a r a n te e in g th e i n t e r e s t 12 in r e tr ie v in g a n d re s c u in g th e goods, a s it is d e s c rib e d in U lp ia n u s libr. LVI a d E d ic tu m , D .4 7 .9 .1 pr:
Praetor ait: in eum, qui ex incendio, ruina naufragio, rate nave expugnata quid rapuisse, recepisse dolo malo, dam nive q u id in his rebus dedisse dicetur, in quadru- p lu m in anno, quod p rim u m de ea re experiundi potestas fuerit, po st a n n u m in sim- p lu m iudicium dabo; item in servum et in fa m ilia m iudicium dabo.
8 For a review of this fragment and the study of the damages caused by the wreckage according to D.47.9.8 y D.10.4.5.4 see Manfredini, Il Naufragio Adriano e Nerazio, Navires et commerces de la mediterranee antique, hommage à Jean Rougé, 1988, p. 371-377.
9 There was an exhaustive investigation of the shipwreck and a report to the judicial authority where the business with the purpose of transport was carried out, with the authoriza tion of the witnesses, for which there was a time period of one year. This way, any creation o simulation of shipwreck would be known both at a private level as shown in C.11.6 and at a public level as a service carried out for the state annona according to CTh. 11.3 see Solazzi, Su C.11.6 de naufragiis , R.D.Nav. V (1939), p. 253-265 also published in Scritti di Diritto Romano, Napoli (1963), 165-174. A. Pinzone, Naufragio, fisco e transporte marittimi nell'eta di Caracalla (Su C.I.11.6.1) in Quaderni Catanes di studi classici e medievali 4 (1982), p. 64-109. Rougé, Le droit de naufrage et ses limitations en Méditerranée avant l’éstablissement de la domination de Rome, [in:] Mélanges d’archéologie et d’histoire offerts à André Piganiol, ed. R. Chevalier, vol. III, Paris 1966, p. 865 foll.
10 Reason for a precautionary measure of a senatus-consultum Claudianum according to Ulpianus libr. LVI D.47.9.3.8: Senatusconsultum Claudianis temporibus factum est, ut si quis ex naufragio clavos, vel unum ex his abstulerit, omnium rerum nomine teneatur.
11 Ulpianus libr. I, Opinionum, D.47.9.10: Ne piscatores nocte lumine ostenso fallant navi gantes, quasi in portum aliquem delaturi, eoque modo in periculum naves, et qui in iis sunt, deducant, sibique execrandam praedam parent, Praesides provinciae religiosa constantia efficiat.
T h e le g a l p r e c a u tio n a r y m e a s u r e s 13 in th i s m a t t e r w e re th e r e f o r e a im e d a t p r o te c tin g th e in ju s tic e im p lie d to m a r in e t r a d e w ith th e s e a c ts o f p illa g e . So, a n d s e ttin g o ff fro m th e la w fu ln e s s o f re s c u e a n d re m o v a l o f w re c k a g e 14, th e m a in a s p e c ts d e v e lo p e d b y th e R o m a n ju r is p r u d e n c e w e re b a s e d on:
1. The law fu ln ess o f th e rem oval and all th ose a cts d irected to
th e a ssista n ce and help o f p eop le and th in gs th a t w ere on th e v essel
T h is r ig h t o f a s s is ta n c e a n d h e lp in a c c id e n ts is in f e r r e d fro m th e s e n a - tu s - c o n s u ltu m C la u d ia n u m a c c o rd in g to th e se c o n d p a r t o f U lp ia n u s ’s f r a g m e n t D .4 7 .9 .3 .8 :
Item alio senatusconsulto cavetur, eos, quorum fraude a u t consilio naufragi sup- presi per vim fuissent, ne navi vel ibi periclitantibus opitulentur, legis Corneliae, quae de sicariis lata est, poenis afficiendos; eos autem , qui qu id ex m iserrim a naufragiorum fortuna rapuissent, lucrative fu issen t dolo malo, in q u a n tu m Edicto Praetoris actio daretur, ta m tu m fisco dare debere15.
T h e te x t p o in ts o u t th e la c k o f a s s is ta n c e a n d h e lp in v e s s e ls in th e ca se o f s h ip w re c k a n d th e ro b b e rie s c a r r ie d o u t d u e to th is a n d fo r th e p u n is h m e n t i t re f e r s to lex C o rn e lia , s u g g e s tin g th e b e h a v io u r s d e s c rib e d in i t for th e s e c a se s. I t also m e n tio n s a n i m p o r ta n t fa c t w h ic h is th e e x is tin g r e la tio n w ith th e fis c u s in th e s e n s e t h a t d e t e r r e n t fisc a l m e a s u r e s a r e im p o s e d to th o s e t h a t c a r r y o u t p illa g e a n d s e iz u r e so a s to p r o te c t th e r ig h t o f r e tr ie v a l o f th e s e goods o n b e h a lf o f t h e i r le g itim a te o w n e rs 16.
2. The p ro h ib itio n o f p illa g in g good s an d w reck a g e, d u rin g
or after th e in cid en t, to th e d etrim ent o f a ll rem ovals or p ossib ility
o f retrieval
T h is j u r i s p r u d e n t i a l p r e c a u tio n a r y m e a s u r e is im p lic it i n n u m e r o u s f r a g m e n ts , w h e re i t is in te n d e d to d is tin g u is h b e tw e e n p illa g e b y ta k in g a d v a n ta g e o f t h e in c id e n t fro m j u s t la r c e n y w h e n i t is c a r r ie d o u t a f te r th e in c id e n t. So, in U lp ia n u s ’s f r a g m e n t lib r. LVI a d E d . D .4 7 .9 .1 .5 th e p r a e to r s t a t e s s i q u id ex n a u fra g io ; h ic illu d q u a e r itu r u tr u m , s i q u is eo tem p o re tu le r it, q u o n a u fr a g iu m fit, a n vero e t s i a lio te m p o re hoc e s t p o s t n a u fr a g iu m ,
13 Ferrini, Diritto Penale Romano (1902, reed), Roma 1976, p. 230 points out that the edict equalizes the punishment to that of the rapina, the damage and larceny committed on the occasion of public disturbance due to calamity or disaster (as fire, shipwreck, etc) and justifies this equalness „in quanto che se la violenza non e sempre direttamente adibita da chi opera, colui che subisce il reato e paralizzato per altre cause dal timore, trovandosi in una condizione non troppo dissimile da colui, contro il quale si rivolgono minaccie”.
14 D.47.9.12. 15 Bas.53.3.1.
16 However, the fiscal intervention was criticized in the private field and not in the field of the state annona where the captain’s responsibility was minutely regulated, A. Pinzone, op. cit., p. 78-79. Solazzi, Su C.I. 11.6., 166 n. 5 identifies this senado-consultum with the above mentioned as the end part of the fragment by Callistratus in D.47.9.7.
n a m q u e res ex n a u fr a g io e tia m h a e d ic u n tu r, q u a e in lito re p o s t n a u fr a g iu m ia c en t. E t m a g is est, u t eo tem pore.
I t is c o n tin u e d b y G a iu s ’ D .4 7 .9 .2 e t loco, c o n tin u in g w ith th e follow ing f r a g m e n t b y U lp ia n u s D .4 7 .9 .3 :
[...] quo naufragium fit, vel fa ctu m est, si quis rapuerit, incidisse in hoc E dictum videatur. Qui autem rem in litore iacentem, posteaquem naufragium factum est, abstu- lit, in ea conditione est, u t magis fu r sit, quam hoc Edicto teneatur, quem adm odum is, qui quod de vehiculo excidit, tulit; nec rapere videtur, qui in litore rem iacentem tollit.
T h e r e g u la tio n s in th e s e f r a g m e n ts m e n tio n th e d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n p lu n d e r in g a n d p illa g e 17 w h ic h t a k e p la c e b y ta k in g a d v a n ta g e o f th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s o f d is tu r b a n c e 18, v io le n c e o f s h ip w re c k o e v e n b e a c h in g 19, to w h ic h a p u n is h m e n t o n a le v e l w ith r a p in a 20 is a p p lie d , a n d th e f u r t u m of goods fo u n d in th e c o a s tlin e .
B u t th e E d ic t also p ro v id e s fo r a p u n is h m e n t21 fo r th e c rim e o f re c e iv in g w re c k a g e o f a s h ip w re c k w h e n a t h i r d p a rty , w ith o u t h a v in g p a r tic ip a te d in t h e p illa g e , a c tin g w ith d o lu s , t a k e a d v a n ta g e o f th e s e o b je c ts w ith o u t a p p ly in g a s e n s u c o n tra rio w h e n t h e y a r e re c e iv e d ig n o rin g t h e i r o rig in :
N on ta n tu m autem qui rapuit, verum is quoque, qui recepit, ex causis supra scriptis tenetur, quia receptores non m in u s delinquut, quam aggressores. S ed enim a d d itu m est dolo m alu, quia non omnis, qui recipit, sta tim etiam delinquit, sed qui dolo malo recipit, qu id enim, si ignarus recipit, a u t quid, si ad hoc recipit, u t custodi- ret salvaque faceret ei, qui amiserat? Utique non debet teneri22.
I n t h e s a m e w ay, i t is o b v io u s t h a t th e E d ic t is n o t a p p lie d in th e c a s e s in w h ic h th e o b je c ts s a v e d a r e re c e iv e d fo r t h e i r cu sto d y . B u t, o f c o u rse , it s h o u ld b e c le a r t h a t d u r in g th e r e s c u e , th e d a m a g e s c a u s e d b y th e o b jects o r th e v e s s e l23 its e lf, on ce i t h a s re a c h e d th e c o a s tlin e , s h o u ld b e c o m p e n s a te d . T h e s e p r e c a u tio n a r y m e a s u r e s a r e fo u n d in a te x t b y N e r a c iu s im p le m e n te d to th e d a m a g e c a u s e d to th e r iv e r s id e th e o w n e r fro m th e r iv e r s id e
17
We understand that the delimitation given by the praetor on the concept of conquer in D.47.9.3.1 is limited and only seems to refer to the act of violence in fight, but we think that the act may also be applied to the practice of pillaging during a sinking or shipwreck either by the crew itself or by those that while assisting also committed pillaging at the same time. For this reason, it is logical to complete the concept of conquer given by Ulpianus with the one given by Paulus in D.47.9.4 posse etiam dici ex naufragio rapere, qui, dum naufragium fiat, in illa trepidatione rapiat.18
They even pursued those caused by false luminous signs D.47.9.10: ne piscatores nocte lumine ostenso fallant navigantes, quasi in portum alquem delaturi, eoque modo in periculum naves, et qui in iis sunt, deducant, sibique execrandam praedam parent, Praesidis provinciae religiosa constantia efficiat.19
D.47.9.3.6.20
Ferrini, op. cit., p.230.21
See D.47.9.4 on the estimation and punishments according to the people and their condition.22
Ulpianus libr. LV ad Ed.47.9.3.3.p r o p e r ty to w h ic h w ill sto p th e b o a t24 a n d t h a t w e a p p ly a n a lo g ic a lly to th e c o a s t25. T h is is a p a r tic u la r ly i n t e r e s t i n g f r a g m e n t b y G a iu s libr. XXI E d. Prov. D .4 7 .9 .5 :
si quis ex naufragio, vel ex incendio ruinave servatam rem et alio loco positam subtraxerit a u t rapuerit, fru ti scilicet, a u t alias vi bonorum raptorum iudicio tenetur, m axim e si non intelligebat, ex naufragio, vel incendio ruinave eam esse. Iacentem quoque rem ex naufragio, quae fluctibus expulsa sit. S i quis abstulerit, plerique idem p u ta n t; quod ita verum est, si aliquod tem pus p o st naufragium intercesserit; aliquod tem pus po st naufragium intercesserit; alioquin si ipso naufragii tempore id acciderit, nih il interest, u ltru m ex ipso m ari quisque rapiat, an ex naufragiis, an ex litore. De eo quoque, quod ex rate, nave expugnata raptum sit, eandem interpretationem adhibere debem us [...]
w e re a n y a c t o f ille g a l s e iz u re b y re m o v a l, d u r in g o r a f te r th e s h ip w re c k , is p r o te c te d , in c lu d in g th e o b je c ts fo u n d b y th e c o a st. F o r a ll o f th e s e , s e iz u re is p r o h ib ite d so a s to s a f e g u a r d th e r ig h ts o f th e le g itim a te ow ner.
3.
The o b ligation to search and locate th e objects th row n over
board by ia c tu s due to a case o f im m inent danger
T h e R o m a n le g is la tio n d id n o t o n ly p ro v id e a n in te r d ic tio n fo r th e c o n d u c ts o f p illa g e in s h ip w re c k s a n d o th e r in c id e n ts , b u t a lso s ti p u l a t e d a n e x h a u s tiv e r e g u la tio n o n a v e r a g e s 26 t h a t w a s b a s e d o n le x R h o d ia 27 de ia c tu 28, t h is w a y ta k in g c o n c e rn a b o u t t h e j e t s a m o f g oods a n d o t h e r o b je c ts t h a t le a d to t h e c o m p e n s a tio n to a ll o f th o s e t h a t o b ta in e d a u s e f u l r e s u l t , w h ic h w a s in c lu d e d in D ig e s t XIV, t i t . II. B u t fro m t h e p o in t o f v ie w o f r e s c u e 29 a n d t h e d if f e r e n t ty p e s o f in c id e n ts t h a t c a u s e s j e t s a m , w e fin d so m e t e x ts t h a t t a l k a b o u t th e o b lig a tio n to s e a r c h a n d r e tr ie v e th e ob jects:
24
Ratis vi fluminis in agrum meum delate non aliter potestatem tibi faciendam, quam si de praeterito quoque damno mihi cavisses, Neratius libr.II Responsorum, D.47.9.8.25
The coasts had an administrative grant and, therefore, it is feasible that in the case of a shipwreck, damages were caused that had to be repaired. For more on these type of grants of the coast see S. Castan, Regimen juridico de las concesiones administrativas en el derecho romano, Madrid 1996, p. 201-204 and the quoted bibliography.26
The iactus mercium caused is in the benefit of all the vessels and the rest of the goods. For a study of these see Zamora, Averias..., p. 115 foll.27
The law derives from the commercial use in the island of Rhodes Isid. Orig 5.17 de legibus Rhodiis Rhodiae leges navalium commerciorum sunt, ab insula Rhodo cognominatae in qua antiquitus mercatorum usus fuit.28
See, as well as others, De Martino, Lex Rhodia, Riv. D. Nav. III, 1937, 335 foll. y en Diritto Privato e societa romana, Roma 1982, p. 72-147. For an extensive study on exegesis and translation see Ashburner, The Rodiam Sea Law, Oxford 1909. De Salvo, Lex Rhodia critica y anticritica su D.14.2.9, Kreller, Lex Rhodia, Untersuchungen zur Quellengeschichte des römisches Seerecht, Z.H. 85, 1921, p. 258 foll.
29
It is understood that each one will keep for themselves what has been saved in the accident D.14.2.7.Julianus libr. II ex Minicio, D.14.2.8: Qui levandae navis gratia res aliquas proiicunt non hanc m entem habeant, u t eas pro derelicto habeant; quippe si invenerin- teas ablaturus, et si suspicati fuerint, in quem locum eiectae sunt, requisiturus, ut perinde sint, ac si quis onere pressus in viam rem abiecerit, mox cum aliis reversurus,
u t eandem auferret30.
T h e te x t k e e p s w ith in a n i m p o r ta n t p re m is e ; th e o b je c ts th r o w n o v e rb o a r d to l ig h te n th e v e s s e l a r e n o t c o n s id e re d a s a b a n d o n e d b u t a s lo s t a n d th e r e f o r e , s till c o n tin u e to b e lo n g to its le g itim a te o w n e rs . T h e f r a g m e n t by J u l i a n u s e x h o r ts th e o w n e rs to s e a r c h fo r a n d lo c a te t h e o b je c ts o r goods th r o w n o v e rb o a rd d u r in g m a r in e d is tr e s s . F ro m o u r p o in t o f view , w e th in k t h a t t h is o b lig a tio n to lo c a te a n d r e tr ie v e th e w re c k a g e co u ld b e c o n s id e re d a s o n e o f th e f ir s t j u r i s p r u d e n t i a l in d ic a tio n s o f e n v ir o n m e n t p ro te c tio n a n d c o n s e rv a tio n o f th e s e a a n d its c o a st. I n fa c t, th e p a s s a g e p o in ts o u t t h a t i f it is s u s p e c te d w h e re th e w re c k a g e c o u ld b e, i t s h o u ld b e s e a r c h e d for. T h e r e g u la tio n is c le a r a s i t m e n tio n s a c o m p u ls o ry re m o v a l o f th e o b je c ts t h a t c o n tin u e s to b e p r o p e r ty o f th e o n e t h a t t h r e w i t o v e rb o a rd or, w h e re a p p r o p r ia te , o f th e d o c k e rs. T h is a c t o f s a c rific e s h o u ld n o t b e i n te r p r e te d a s a n a b a n d o n m e n t o r d e re lic tio n o f th e o b je c ts a s n u m e r o u s f r a g m e n ts v o u c h for:
Paul. D.14.2.2.8. Res autem iacta dom ini manet, nec fit apprehendentis, quia pro derelicto non habetur. Gaius, libr. I IR e r u m q. D.41.1.9.8: A lia causa est earum rerum, quae in tempestate m aris levandae navis causa eiiciuntur; hae enim dom inorum p er m anent, quia non eo anim o eiiciuntur, quod quis eas habere non vult, sed quod magis cum ipsa nave p ericulum m aris effugiat; qua de causa si quis eas fluctibus expulsas vel etiam in ipso m ari nactus lucrandi anim o abstulerit fu rtim comitit.
I t is th e r e f o r e o b v io u s th e n o n u su c a p io p ro d e re lic to o f a p o s s ib le re s c u e c a r r ie d o u t b y a t h i r d p a rty :
Jul. libr. II ex Minicio, D.41.7.7: S i quis merces ex nave iactatas invenisset, num ideo usucapere non possit, quia non vederentur derelictae, quaeritur, sed verius est, eum pro derelicto usucapere non posse.
I n th e s a m e w ay, th e te x t b y J a v o le n u s is a b s o lu te ly c le a r D .4 1 .2 .2 1 .1 q u o d ex n a u fr a g io e x p u ls u m est, u s u c a p i n o n p o te st, q u o n ia m n o n e s t in d erelicto , s e d in d ep erd ito .
F ro m a p e n a l p o in t o f view , th e p o s s e s s io n o f th e s e o b je c ts, w ith o u t th e s u b je c tiv e e le m e n t a n im u s d e r e liq u e n d i31, m e a n s th e a s s ig n e m e n t o f la rcen y , a s o b s e rv e d w h ile r e a d in g D .4 1 .1 .9 .8 q u o te d b e fo re a n d th e f r a g m e n t by U lp ia n u s libr. X L I a d S a b ., D .4 7 .2.43.11:
30 Lenel, Palingenesia I, 857, 486 De usucapionibus Iuliano ad minicium libr II as a continuation of D.41.7.7. On the alteration of the texts Berger, In tema di derelizzione BIDR 1915, p. 46 foll.
31 On the relevance of this subjective element that constitutes the centre of a possible acquisition although in the iactus mercium ex navis the abandonment of goods does not exist, this is not due to a lack of interest, but of a contingency that forces the throwing with the hope of retrieval S. Romano, Studi sulla derelizione nel diritto romano, Padova 1933, p. 139-142 and L. Vacca, Derelictio e acquisto delle res pro derelicto habitae, Milano 1984, p. 94 foll.
S i iactum ex nave fa ctu m alius, tulerit, an fu rti teneatur? Quaestio in eo est, an pro derelicto h a b itu m sit. E t si quidem derelinquentis anim o iactavit, quod plerum que credendum est, cuum sciat periturum , qui invenit, su u m fecit, nec fu rti tenetur. S i vero non hoc animo, sed hoc, u t si salvum fuerit, haberet ei, qui invenit auferendum est, et si scit hoc, qui invenit, et anim o fu ra n d i tenet, fu rti tenetur. Enim vero si hoc animo, ut salvum faceret domino, fu rti non tenetur; quod si p u ta n s sim pliciter iactatum , furti sim iliter non tenetur.
T h is l a s t fra g m e n t, to g e th e r w ith D .4 1 .1 .9 .8 , c o n s id e rs la r c e n y th e s e iz u r e o n b e h a lf o f a t h i r d p a r t y o v e r o b je c ts fo u n d , k n o w in g t h a t t h e i r o rig in is ia c tu s , a n d t h a t h a v e b e e n th r o w n o v e rb o a rd to r e s c u e th e o th e r o b je c ts a n d th e v e s s e l32 its e lf . B u t t h e se c o n d p a r t of t h e f r a g m e n t t a lk s sp e c ific a lly a b o u t a v o lu n ta r y re s c u e o f th e o b je c ts, in w h ic h th e in te r v e n tio n o f th e in d iv id u a ls d o es n o t im p ly a n a c t o f s e iz u re a s t h e i r in te n tio n is to sa v e th e o b je c ts fo r t h e i r le g itim a te o w n e rs .
I n th e B a s ilik a w e c a n a lso fin d re fe re n c e s to th e re s c u e of w re c k a g e , s p e c ific a lly in th e r e g u la tio n fro m th e rh o d iu m la w c o n ta in e d in i t i n th e B ook L III tit. V III fra g . 31:
S i mercator navem oneraverit, et navi qu id acciderit, om nia quae salva supersunt, in co n trib u tio n em u trim q u e veniat. Q uodsi a rg en tu m sa lv u m fia t, q u in ta s so- lvat:m agister vero cum nautis opem ferat, ut servetur.
I n th e f r a g m e n t a b o u t re s c u e a n d th e in v o lv e m e n t o f m oney, a f if th of th e v a lu e of th e w re c k a g e is c o m p e n s a te d , th e l a s t p a r t s ta n d s o u t i n how th e M a s te r w ith h is s a ilo rs h a v e to w o rk to r e tr ie v e e v e r y th in g a n d so, p ro c e e d to t h e re s c u e o f th e goods d u r in g m a r in e d is tr e s s . W e se e h o w in th e s e c a s e s th e c re w it s e l f ta k e s p a r t in th e r e s c u e o f th e g o ods, b u t in n u m e r o u s tim e s o th e r in d iv id u a ls t a k e p a r t in th e re m o v a ls a s w e w ill a n a ly z e in th e n e x t se c tio n .
2. F in d in gs and rem oval on b e h a lf o f in d iv id u a ls
and d ivers (u rin a to res)
I n th is s e c tio n w e a r e g o in g to d is tin g u is h th e r e s c u e o f goods c a r r ie d o u t v o lu n ta r ily b y a t h i r d p a r t y fro m th e re s c u e w h e re p ro fe s s io n a l d iv e rs a re h ir e d to b e in c h a rg e o f d re d g in g a n d lo c a tin g t h e ob jects.
1.
V oluntary rescu e carried ou t by a th ird p arty w ith o u t a co n
tractu al relation sh ip w ith th e ow ners
I n th e s e c a s e s w e s t a n d b e fo re t h e re s c u e o f goods fro m a v e s s e l t h a t h a s th r o w n th e m o v e rb o a rd to sa v e it s e l f a n d th e r e s t o f th e o b jects. To s t a r t off fro m , in th e s e c a s e s th e in d iv id u a ls :
32 D.41.2.21.2: Idem iuris esse existimo in his rebus, quae iactae sunt, quoniam non potest videri id pro derelicto habitum, quod salutis causa interim dimissum est.
1) S h o u ld a c t k n o w in g t h a t th e re s c u e o f t h e w re c k a g e o r o f t h e v e s s e l d o es n o t e n t a i l t h e a c q u is itio n p r o d e re lic to in h is fa v o u r, o th e r w is e i t w o u ld b e c la s s ifie d a s la rc e n y , a s i t is in f e r r e d fro m th e e n d p a r t o f D .4 7 .2 .4 3 .1 1 : S i vero n o n h oc a n im o , s e d hoc, u t s i s a lv u m fu e r it, h a b e r e t ei, q u i in v e n it a u fe r e n d u m est, e t s i s c it hoc, q u i in v e n it, e t a n im o fu r a n d i tenet, f u r t i tenetur. E n im v e r o s i hoc a n im o , u t s a lv u m fa c e r e t d o m in o , f u r t i n o n te n e tu r ; q u o d si p u t a n s s im p lic ite r ia c ta tu m , f u r t i s im ilite r n o n tenetur.
2) W ill a c t v o lu n ta r ily in th e c o lle c tio n o f goods, p ro c e e d in g to its re s c u e a w a itin g th e c la im o n b e h a l f o f i ts o w n e rs , w h ic h a lso s to p s fro m c la s s ify in g t h e a c t a s la rc e n y . T h is is b a s ic a lly d e d u c e d fro m : p r o in d e v id e a m u s , si n escit, c u iu s e sset sic ta m e n tu lit, q u a s i r e d d itu r u s ei, q u i d e sd e ra sse t, vel q u i o s te n d is s e t re m s u a m , a n f u r t i o b lig e tu r 33.
3) S h o u ld r e p o r t t h e f in d in g s or, w h e re a p p r o p r ia te , th e re m o v a l, th e l a t t e r b e in g le s s c o m m o n b y in d iv id u a ls , o f th e o b je c ts t h a t w e re in th e s e a o r o b v io u sly in th e c o a s t, w ith th e a im t h a t th e th o s e c o n c e rn e d m a y b e in fo rm e d o f th e re s c u e a n d so m a y p ro c e e d to c la im in g it: s o le n t p le r iq u e e tia m hoc facere, u t lib e llu m p r o p o n a n t c o n tin e n te m , in v e n is s e e t r e d d itu r u m ei, q u i d e s id e r a v e r it; h i ergo o s te n d u n t, n o n f u r a n d i a n im o se fe c isse 34. A t th e s a m e tim e , th i s n e e d to r e p o r t th e fin d in g s e m p h a s iz e s t h a t th e in d iv id u a l a c ts w ith o u t th e in te n tio n o f a c q u ie s c e n c e o f th e w re c k a g e o r goods th r o w n o v e rb o a rd t h a t b e lo n g to t h e i r ow ner.
T h is a c tio n o n b e h a l f o f th e in d iv id u a ls t h a t s p o n ta n e o u s ly t a k e p a r t in t h e r e tr ie v a l o f w re c k a g e , m a n y tim e s w ith o u t th e k n o w le d g e a n d c o n s e n t o f th o s e c o n c e rn e d , t h a t is w h y i t is so i m p o r ta n t to r e p o r t th e fin d in g s , a llo w s u s to c la s s ify th e c o n tr a c tu a l n a t u r e o f t h e i r v o lu n ta r y c o n tr ib u tio n a s a n e g o tio r u m g e stio a n d th e r e f o r e , a n y c la im o n b e h a lf o f th e o w n e r p e r m its t h e f in d e r to re c e iv e th e n e c e s s a r y e x p e n s e s fo r th e p r e s e r v a tio n o f th e o b je c ts fo u n d a n d th e c o m p e n s a tio n o f th e d a m a g e s g e n e r a te d in h is p r o p e r ty, a s w e h a v e p o in te d o u t b efo re.
T h e re fo re , d u e to th e s p o n ta n e ity o f th e se rv ic e c a r r ie d o u t b y a t h i r d p a r t y a s a s u b s t i t u t e o r a l t e r ego o f th e d o c k e rs t h a t lo s t th e goods, w e c a n n o t t a l k a b o u t a le g a l o b lig a tio n o r a c o n tr a c tu a l u n lik e th e re s c u e c a r r ie d o u t th e u r in a to r e s , t h a t , a s w e w ill se e f u r t h e r on, re c e iv e a r e m u n e r a tio n a n d th e r e f o r e , th i s s e ts a r e a l p r e c e d e n t o f a c u r r e n t c o n tr a c t o f re sc u e . T h a t is, th e s p o n ta n e o u s se rv ic e c a r r ie d o u t b y in d iv id u a ls in th is c a s e h a s to b e d is tin g u is h e d fro m a n a g re e d o r a c o n tr a c tu a l one.
33 D.47.2.43.8. 34 Ibidem.
2. The rescu e and retriev a l o f goods by divers or u rin a to res
N u m e ro u s so u rc e s v o u c h fo r th e e x is te n c e o f u r in a to r e s 35, V a rr u s L .la t 5 .1 2 6 .36 u rn a e d ic ta e, q u o d u r in a n t in a q u a h a u r ie n d a u t u rin a to r, u rin a re e s t m e rg i in a q u a m d e s c rib e s a n y in d iv id u a l t h a t im m e r s e s in w a te r. S in ce d i s t a n t tim e s , t h e y w e re in c h a rg e o f c a r r y in g o u t n u m e r o u s s u b a q u a tic a c tiv itie s . I n fa c t, th e y w e re u s e d a s u n i t s o f c o m b a t in a la r g e n u m b e r o f w a rs , in w h ic h t h e y w e re e n t r u s t e d to s in k , a t t a c k 37 o r s e t o n fire v e s s e ls 38 e tc. T h e y w e re a lso o rg a n iz e d b y s e ttin g u p a n i m p o r ta n t c o rp o ra tio n a s i t is in f e r r e d fro m th e in s c r ip tio n o f th e e p ig r a p h 39 C .I.L . V I.1 8 7 2 t h a t m e n tio n s a c o rp o r a tio n o f f is h e r m a n a n d d iv e rs in th e r iv e r T ib e r (206 A .C.):Ti. Claudio E squil(ina) Severo - decuriali lictori patrono - corporis piscatorum et - urinator(um ), q(uin) q(vennali tertium ) eiusdem corporis - ob m erita eius - quod hic p rim u s statuas duas, una(m ) - A n to n in i A ug(usti) dom ini n(ostri), aliam Ili(iae)
- Agustae dom inae nostr(ae) s(ua) p(ecunia) p(osuerit) - una cum Claudio Pontinano filio - suo eq(uite) Rom(ano), et hoc am plius eidem - corpori donaverit (sestertium decem) mil(ia) n(um m um ), - ut ex usuris earum quodam nis - natali suo (ante diem decim um septim um ) k(alendas) Febr(uarias) - sportulae viritim dividantur, - praeser- tim cum navigatio scapharum diligentia eius adquisita - et confirmata sit.ex decreto - ordi- nis corporis piscatorum - et urinatorum totius alv(ei) Tieber(is), quibus ex s(enatus) c(onsultio) coire licet, s(ua) p(ecunia) p(osuerunt) - Dedic(ata) cet40.
I t s e e m s t h a t th e c o rp o ra tio n , a u th o r iz e d sin c e th e P r in c ip a lity b y v ir tu e o f th e s e n a d o -c o n s u ltu m 41, g r o u p e d to g e th e r f is h e r m e n a n d d iv e rs . H o w ev er,
35
For the etymology of urinator see Walde-Hofmann, Lateinisches Etymologisches Wörter buch v. II, Heildelberg 1954, 840 the etymology is based on the text by Varro urinor-ari one that dives under the water. Ernout-Mellet, Dictionnaire Ety. langue latine, Paris 1959, 755 (=Plongeur). Dirksen, Manuale latinitatis fontium i.c.Romanorum, Berlin 1937, 1019 urina- tor(=qui sub aqua natat). Heumann Seckel, Handlexikon, z.d. Quellen des Römischen Rechts, 1914, p. 604 v. Urinator (=Taucher).36
See, Oleson, op. cit., p. 27.37
Plinio, H. Nat IX.30.48 talks about the atrocious attack on the urinatores: Praetera negat ullum atrocius esse animal ad conficiendum hominen in aqua. Luctatur enim conplexu et sorbet acetabullis ac numeroso suctu diu trahit, cum in naufragos urinantisue impetum cepit.38
In Caesar’s wars against Pompeii 49 BC, Cassius narrates the use of these divers for war in the creation of combat for attacking that causes the beaching and shipwreck of vessels, see Cassius Dion, Hist. Rom. 42.12.2.39
Oleson, op. cit, p. 23 talks about the specialization of the Ostian guild was probably fostered by the greater volume of business and consequently higher enrolment in the port, as well as the absence of interest common to the local fishermen, who would not have fished the harbour waters. The river diver probably worked on much the same tasks as the harbour diver - recovery of goods lost overboard during loading and unloading, the inspection of hulls and anchorage - with additional function of assisting in the construction and maintenance of the footings below the numerous Tiber bridges. See also CIL 1080, 29700, 29702. About the etymo logy of the term urinator see also p. 24 foll.40
In the same way, Inscriptionum Orelli 4115., works on other inscriptions referring to this corporation of divers in C.I.L. VI 29700, 29701.41
De Robertis, Storia delle corporazioni e del regime associativo nel mondo romano, Bari 1971, vol. I. 218, n. 60.a n o th e r o n e e x is te d in O s tia 42 t h a t c a r r ie d o u t p o r t a c tiv itie s , b u t does n o t d iffe r fro m t h e o n e m e n tio n e d b e fo re . I n e i t h e r c a se , t h e c o rp u s a c q u ire s th e le v e l o f a n a u th o r iz e d a s s o c ia tio n re c o g n iz e d a s a n o r g a n b y t h e S t a t e 43, w h ic h a llo w s i t to w o rk in fa v o u r o f th e s t a t e a n n o n a s a v in g t h e i r o b jects.
R e g a rd in g r e s c u e , th e u r in a to r e s 44 c a r r ie d o u t th e t a s k o f re m o v a l a n d r e s c u e o f goods n o t o n ly in th e s e a b u t also i n r iv e r s . A lth o u g h t h e i r i n t e r v e n tio n i n s u b a q u a tic re m o v a l e x p e d itio n s w a s lim ite d d u e to a la c k o f te c h n ic a l m e a n s , r e s c u e s i n s h a llo w w a te r s a n d b e in g b a lla s te d w ith s to n e s in d o ck s a n d r iv e r s 4 5 . L ogically, w e t h i n k t h a t t h e i r in te r v e n tio n w a s c a r r ie d o u t in th e fie ld o f a ll th e ty p e s o f a v e r a g e s a n d m a r in e a c c id e n ts , je ts a m s , s h ip w re c k s , b e a c h in g s , e tc . H o w ev e r, w e a lso s h a r e R o u g e ’s o p in io n o f t h e i r lik e ly in te r v e n tio n i n th e p o r t its e lf, e v e n in th e a c tiv itie s o f r e f lo a tin g th e v e sse l.
C a llis tr a tu s in Q u a e s tio n u m lib r. II, D .1 4 .2 .4 .1 t a lk s a b o u t th e re m o v a ls o n b e h a lf o f th e d iv e r s 46 a n d a b o u t t h e i r m is s io n s o f re m o v a l a n d re s c u e of goods:
S ed si navis, quae in tempestate iactu m ercium unius mercatoris levata est, in alio loco sum m ersa est, et aliquorum mercatorum merces per urinatores extractae su n t data mercede rationem haberi debere eius, cuius merces in navigatione levandae navis cau sa iactae su n t ab his, qui postea sua per urinatores servaverunt, sabinus aeque respon- dit. E orum vero, qui ita servaverunt, invicem rationem haberi non debere ab eo, qui in navigatione iactum fecit, si quaedam ex his mercibus per urinatores extractae sunt: eorum enim merces non p o ssu n t videri servandae navis causa iactae esse, quae p erit47.
T h e te x t r e f e r s to a n u n s u c c e s s fu l lig h te n in g o f goods a s th e v e s s e l is n o t sa v e d , e v e n th o u g h th e u r in a to r e s 48 m a n a g e to sa v e so m e o f th e goods. T h e re s c u e o p e ra tio n , a s w e m a y d e d u c e fro m th e fr a g m e n t, is in r e t u r n o f a n i n t e r e s t o r fa v o u r, u r in a to r e s e x tra c ta e s u n t d a ta m erced e r a tio n e m h a b e ri
42 Inscription of Ostia in C.I.L.XIV.303.
43 With the same point of view E. Gandolfo, op. cit., p. 202.
44 Rougé, Recherches sur L'organisation du commerce maritime en méditerranée sous L'empire romain, Paris 1966, p. 200 sobre funciones de esta corporacion senala que „sont eux qui vont chercher au fond des bassins des ports, des rivières o de la mer, dans ses régions peu profondes non loin de la côte, les marchandises qui avaient pu y tomber, soit accidentellement, soit à la suite d’ un jet, soit à la suite d’ un naufrage”.
45 In the field of arqueology A. Tchernia, Les urinatores sur l’ épave de la madrague de giens, publicado en Navires et commerces de la mediterranee antique, hommage à Jean Rougé,
1988, p. 490-497, the retrieval of amphoras stand out in this study. 46 Plinio, H. Nat. IX.30.48.
47 Lenel, Palingenesia I, 98, p. 102, appears with the fragment 107 D.47.9.7 quoted before regarding the protection of shipwrecked objects.
48 On removal of pecuniae from the final years of the Republic Tit. Liv. XLIV.10.3: Incau- tior Nicias Pellae proiciendo pecuniae partem quae fuerat ad Phacum sed in re emedabili visus lapsus esse, quod per urinatores omnis ferme extracta est. Tantusque pudor regi pavoris eius fuit ut urinatores clam interfici iusserit... See Wieacker, Iactus in tributum nave salva venit, Studi Albertario I, 1953, p. 523.
deb ere eiu s, w h ic h , fro m o u r p o in t o f view , m e a n s a c o n tr a c tu a l r e la tio n b e tw e e n th e d o c k e rs a n d o w n e rs w ith th e d iv e rs in c h a rg e o f e x e c u tin g it.
A s w e h a v e s a id b e fo re , u n lik e v o lu n ta r y r e s c u e s c a r r ie d o u t b y a t h i r d p a r t y i n w h ic h th e r e e x is ts n o c o n tr a c t, h e r e th e re fe r e n c e s to th e p ro v is io n o f se rv ic e s o f u r in a to r e s in r e t u r n o f r e tr ib u tio n , g iv es u s th e c h a n c e to a ffirm t h a t w e a r e in th e p re s e n c e o f a lo ca tio c o n d u c tio o p e ra ru m . A ll th e e le m e n ts a r e p r e s e n t to c o n s id e r i t t h a t w ay: 1) I n d iv id u a ls lo c a to res, o n o n e h a n d th e u r in a to r e s a n d , o n th e o th e r h a n d , a s c o n d u c to rs , th e a ffe c te d i n th e in c id e n t. H e re , w e e x te n d th i s a p p li c a tio n n o t o n ly to th e c a s e s o f je ts a m , b u t to a n y in c id e n t. 2) O b je c t o f th e re s c u e , re m o v a l o f goods a n d o th e r w re c k a g e m erca to - r u m m erces p e r u r in a to r e s e x tra c ta e b o th in c a s e s o f a v e r a g e s a n d o f a n y a c c id e n t. 3) R e tr ib u tio n fo r th e p ro v is io n o f s e rv ic e s fo r th e re m o v a l o f w re c k a g e , w h ic h a llo w s d is tin g u is h in g in th e s e c a s e s a c o n tr a c tu a l se rv ic e fro m th e s p o n ta n e ity c a r r ie d o u t w ith o u t a c o n tra c t. F ro m o u r p o in t o f view , th is r e t r i b u t i o n g u a r a n t e e d w ith t h e c o n c e ssio n to th e s a v e r s o f a r ig h t to r e t a i n th e o b je c ts, t h a t w a s e s ta b lis h e d to g u a r a n t e e th e c o m p e n s a tio n in th e s e t tle m e n t o f a v e r a g e s 49, b u t t h a t a lso a p p lie s to o u r ca se s.
I n th e s a m e w ay, th e e x tr a c t w ith th e s a m e c o n te n t is re fle c te d in P a u l. S e n t. II.7 .1 : Ia c tu n a v is le v a ta s i p e r ie r it e x tra c tis a lio r u m p e r u rin a to re s m er- cibus, eiu s q u o q u e r a tio n e m h a b e ri p la c u it, q u i m erces s a lv a n a v e ia c ta v it50.
T h e te x t sh o w s a s u m m a r y o f th e a b o v e, th e d e c isio n o f C a llis tr a tu s s u p p o r te d b y S a b in u s , t h a t c o n n e c ts tw o in s titu tio n s : th e re s c u e a n d re m o v a l o f s h ip w re c k s w ith th e a v e ra g e s , a s th e c o m p e n s a tio n g iv e n i n a n y a v e ra g e m a k e s s u r e t h a t th o s e th e sa v e th e goods c o m p e n s a te th o s e t h a t h a v e s u ffe re d th e ia c tu s 51.
So t h is w ay, th o s e t h a t s a v e d th e goods w ill b e a b le to c a r r y o u t th e c o n tr ib u tio n i n f a v o u r o f th e o n e t h a t in itia lly lo s t h is b e c a u s e o f a je ts a m . H o w e v er, th e te x t s e ts o u t t h a t th e v e s s e l f in a lly s in k s , so th e r e f o r e th e e x p e n s e s o f th e re m o v a l w ill b e o n b e h a l f o f th o s e t h a t w is h e d to sa v e th e o b je c ts, t h is is, t h e o n e t h a t w a s in itia lly a ffe c te d b y t h e je ts a m , e v e n i f h is o b je c ts a r e l a t e r r e tr ie v e d . H e is n o t o b lig e d to c o n tr ib u te to th e lo sse s o f a s u b s e q u e n t s h ip w re c k . T h a t is w h y t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f w re c k a g e , b e it n a t u r a l l y d u e to th e w a v e s o r d u e to th e p ro v is io n o f se rv ic e s b y th e u rin a to - r e s , in r iv e r s o r i n th e se a , c a u s e s a n im p o r t a n t le g a l e ffect o n a v e r a g e s a n d
49
See D.14.2.2.pr. and the interpretation by Marrone, D.14.2.2 pr retentio e iudicia bonae fidei, IURA 6, 1955, p. 170 foll.50
De Martino, Lex Rhodia..., 117 states: “tanto il titulo 14.2 D. che P.S.2.7 derivano da una fonte postclasica, cioe da una compilazione sulla lex Rhodia, che doveva esser difussa nelle scuole, data l’importanza che il tema aveva assunto fra i cultori del diritto e fra i retori”.t h a t is t h a t th e c o m p e n s a tio n is d is r e g a r d e d i n fa v o u r o f th e o n e t h a t w a s a ffe c te d b y th e j e t s a m 52.
T h e s a m e h a p p e n s w ith th e a p p e a r a n c e o f a v e s s e l w h e n th e r e e x is ts a n y ty p e o f s e c u r ity i n t e r e s t a s G a n d o lfo 53 p o in ts o u t, t h a t d is tin g u is h e s , d e p e n d in g o n th e d e g re e o f in t e n s i t y o f th e s to r m 54, a c o m m o n r e a s o n of s in k in g , th e p o s s ib ility o f r e s c u in g th e v e s s e l y its s t a t e e m p h a s iz in g o n th e im p o r ta n c e o f th e u r in a to r e s i n t h e r e m o v a l a c tiv itie s , a s th e r e tr ie v a l a n d r e f lo a tin g o f t h e v e s s e l in flu e n c e s th e c o n tin u a tio n o f th e o b lig a tio n a n d r i g h t t h a t th e s e c u r e d c r e d ito r p o s s e s s e s , t h a t ’s w h y th e im p o r ta n c e o f th e re s c u e a n d th e re m o v a ls .
T h e o w n e rs 55 o f th e w re c k a g e a r e o b lig e d to lo c a te a n d re m o v e a s w e s a id b e fo re a n d n o t o n ly in th e c a s e s o f je ts a m , b u t in a ll a c c id e n ts .
D.14.2.8: qui levandae navis gratia res aliquas proiicunt non hanc m entem habe- ant, u t eas pro derelicto habeant; quippe si invenerinteas ablaturus, et si suspicati fuerint, in quem locum eiectae sunt, requisiturus, u t perinde sint, ac si quis onere pressus in viam rem abiecerit, mox cum aliis reversurus, ut eandem auferret.
H e r e w e a lso n o tic e h o w o n e m a y le a v e s o m e th in g a lo n g th e v o y a g e d u e to th e n e e d o f a v o id in g a b ig g e r d i s a s t e r so t h a t o th e r s c a n re s c u e o r sa v e th e o b je c ts. I t in d ir e c tly m e n tio n s th e n o r m a l p r a c tic e o f re s c u e a n d its n e e d in a s itu a tio n o f d a n g e r in w h ic h a b a n d o n m e n t is d is m is s e d . I t s e e m s to b e t h a t th e c la s s ic a l j u r i s p r u d e n t i a l p r e c a u tio n a r y m e a s u r e s o b lig e a n in e v i t a b le a n d in v o lu n ta r y re s c u e . I t does n o t lim it i t s e l f to a d v is in g , i t fo rces th e r e tr ie v a l a n d re m o v a l o f t h e w re c k a g e e i t h e r b y th e c re w it s e l f o r b y a t h i r d p a r ty , p r o te c tin g th e lo c a tio n a n d th e re m o v a l o f w re c k a g e a s w e s a w b e fo re in D .4 7 .9 .1 2 licere u n ic u iq u e n a u fr a g iu m s u u m im p u n e coligere.
H ow ever, w e a r e a b le to a ffirm t h a t a c o n n e c tio n m a y e x is t b e tw e e n re s c u e c a r r ie d o u t b y in d iv id u a ls a n d th e o n e e x e c u te d b y th e u r in a to r e s , th e l a t t e r in th e c a se s t h a t no locatio e x ists. T h e re fo re , in th e c a se o f a fin d in g , th is sh o u ld b e, w h e re a p p ro p r ia te , c o m p e n s a te d a s i t is d e sc rib e d in th e te x t b y U lp ia n u s libr. 41 a d S a b in u m D .4 7 .2 .4 3 .9 : Q u id ergo s i in v e n tio n is p r a e m ia q u a e d ic u n t p e ta t? N ec h ic v id e tu r fu r t u m fa cere e tsi n o n p ro b e p e ta t a liq u id .
52 Obviously, if the compensation already took place without waiting for the search and location of the wreckage, action should be filed against the person that obtained the benefit in the settlement to refund the amount si res quae iactae sunt, apparuerint exoneratur collatio, quodsi iam contributio facta sit, tunc hi, qui solverint, agent ex locato cum magistro, ut is ex conducto experiatur, et quod exegerit, reddat, Paulus libr. 34 ad Ed.D.14.2.2.7.
53 Gandolfo, op. cit., p. 239.
54 Most of the sources talk about storm amongst others see D.14.2.4.1, D.14.2.6, Paul. Sent.2.7.2.
55 The retrieval of wreckage was common and the search for them stopped from thinking it could be a possible abandonment Vacca, op. cit., p. 96: “e non sembri assurdo che si potesse pensare di recuperare le cose proveniente da naufragio o da iactus, ché anzi nella pratica il recupero di alcuni tipi di merci tramite gli urinatores doveva essere abbastanza frequente”.
I n th i s w ay, i t is u n d e r s to o d t h a t in th e c a s e s o f v o lu n ta r y re s c u e , e ith e r d o n e b y in d iv id u a ls o r c a r r ie d o u t b y d iv e rs freely, c o m p e n s a tio n m a y e x is t so a s to c o m p e n s a te t h a t re s c u e . I t is o b v io u s t h a t a u s e f u l r e s u l t is n e e d e d , a s w e h a v e s a id b e fo re , i t s h o u ld b e r e p o r te d so t h a t th e le g itim a te o w n e rs h a v e k n o w le d g e s o le n t p le r iq u e e tia m hoc facere, u t lib e llu m p r o p o n a n t conti- n e n te m , in v e n is s e e t r e d d itu r u m ei, q u i d e s id e r a v e r it; h i ergo o s te n d u n t, n o n fu r a n d i a n im o se fe c is s e 56. T h e s e a r c h a n d re m o v a l o f w re c k a g e , e x e c u te d b y th e u r in a to r e s o r b y in d iv id u a ls , is a re s c u e a c tiv ity t h a t h a s a lr e a d y b e e n c o n s id e re d b y th e R o m a n s a n d in w h ic h c a s e th e m a in b u d g e t, w ith a n ey e o n r e m u n e r a tio n o r c o m p e n s a tio n , is a u s e f u l57 r e s u l t fo r th e v e s s e l a n d its o b je c ts i n th e c a s e o f m a r in e d is tr e s s . T h is r e m u n e r a tio n in th e c a s e s o f lo ca tio o r th e c o m p e n s a tio n in th e c a s e s w h e re th e r e is no c o n tr a c tu a l r e la tio n s h ip , is s u b je c t to th e v a lu e o f th e th in g s a v e d a s w e c a n g a t h e r fro m th e f r a g m e n t b y P a u lu s D .1 4 .2 .2 .4 : P o rtio a u te m p r o a e s tim a tio n e r e r u m q u a e s a lv a e s u n t. A lth o u g h th e te x t r e f e r s to th e r e g u la tio n o f th e e s tim a tio n a n d v a lu e o f th e a v e ra g e s w ith a n ey e to c o m p e n s a tio n , th e v a lu a tio n u s e d m a y b e a p p lie d to th e c a s e s w e a r e a n a ly z in g .
L ik e w ise , th e r e is a d ir e c t r e la tio n b e tw e e n re s c u e a n d th e c o m p e n s a tio n in a v e ra g e s a s t h e r e tr ie v a l o f a ll t h e o b je c ts, w h e th e r i t ’s fo r re s c u e o r re m o v a l fro m th e s e a , w h e n th e y h a v e b e e n th r o w n o v e rb o a rd to lig h te n th e v e s s e l a n d its goods, a r e o b je c t o f v a lu a tio n w h e n re c tify in g th e c o m p e n s a tio n q u o ta w h e n t h e s e ttle m e n t o f th e a v e ra g e h a s t a k e n p la c e , a s in f e r r e d fro m P a u lu s e n D .1 4 .2 .2 .7 :
si res, quae iactae sunt, apparuerint, exoneratur collatio, quodsi iam contributio facta sit, tunc hi qui solverint, agent ex locato cum magistro, ut is ex conducto experiatur, et quod exegerit reddat.
T h e d a n g e r in v o lv e d in th e re s c u e o p e r a tio n o f th e s h ip ’s w re c k a g e a n d its c a rg o ta k e s th e s h a p e o f a p a r a m e t e r w h e n c a lc u la tin g th e r e m u n e r a tio n . F o r th i s l a t t e r a s p e c t, w e h a v e a te x t fro m t h e B a s ilik a fro m th e R h o d iu m s e a la w B a s. 5 3.8.47:
si aurum vel argentum, vel aliud quidpiam ex profundo sursum latum fuerit cubitis octo, tertiam partem accipiat is, qui conservat: sin a quindecim cubitis, semissem consequatur is qui conservat, propter periculum profunditatis. Eorum vero, quae a mari reiiciuntur in terram, et ad unum cubitum demersa reperiuntur, decimam partem accipiat is, qui salva exportat.
56 D.47.2.43.8.
57 This requirement is clear regarding compensation according to D.14.2.4.1 where it points out uritatores extractae sunt data mercede, it may be deduced that there should exist a useful finding or retrieval of the objects.
T h is p a s s a g e m e n tio n s th e e x tr a c tio n o f p re c io u s m e ta ls a n d o th e r o b je c ts to w h ic h th e b o th fo rm s d is c u s s e d b e fo re m a y b e a p p lie d . I n th e c a s e o f
r e s c u e b y in d iv id u a ls o r b y th e u r in a to r e s , i f p ro fe s s io n a ls t a k e p a r t , o r n o t, m a y a ffe c t th e su c c e ss o f th e r e tr ie v a l. B e fo re, w e s a id t h a t in th is p e rio d so m e lim ita tio n s e x is te d in re m o v a l a n d d iv in g d u e to th e la c k o f te c h n ic a l m e a n s . H o w ev er, a n i m p o r ta n t in n o v a tio n s h o u ld b e p o in te d o u t a n d th i s is t h a t th e te x t is b a s e s th e v a lu a tio n o f th e r is k in v o lv e d in th e re m o v a l o p e r a tio n k e e p in g in m in d th e d e p th a t w h ic h i t is c a r r ie d o u t: 1) T h e r e tr ie v a l o f th e w re c k a g e in 8 c u b its d e p th m e a n s th e c o llectio n is v a lu e d in a t h i r d o f it. A lth o u g h w e m a y a lso i n t e r p r e t t h a t th e r e m u n e r a tio n c o n s is ts in t h e v a lu e o f th e th in g s fo u n d .
2) I f t h e r e m o v a l ta k e s p la c e in 15 c u b its d e p th , th e co lle c tio n in c re a s e s to u p to h a l f th e v a lu e .
I t ’s o b v io u s t h a t b o th c a s e s a r e b a s e d o n t h e r i s k o f th e re s c u e o p e r a tio n a c c o rd in g to th e d e p th ; th e b ig g e r t h e ris k , th e h ig h e r th e r e tr ib u tio n , p ro v i d e d t h a t th e re m o v a l is a c h ie v e d . T h e e n d o f th e f r a g m e n t m e n tio n s j u s t a fin d in g i n th e c o a st; in t h is c a s e th e r e is no ty p e o f s p e c ia l s u b a q u a tic a c tiv ity , b u t r a t h e r o n e h a s a c c id e n ta lly com e a c ro s s a f lo a tin g o b je c t t h a t r e a c h e s th e c o a st. D u e to th e a b s e n c e o f d a n g e r i n th e o p e ra tio n , u n lik e th e p re v io u s c a se s, th e c o lle c tio n p o in te d o u t is ju s tif ie d in a t e n t h o f th e v a lu e .
W e c a n a lso fin d r e fe re n c e s to r e s c u e o f sk iffs o r s m a lle r v e s s e ls t h a t m a y b e d r if te d B a s. 5 3.8.46:
S i scapha, funibus, quibus navis ligata erat, ruptis, cum navigantibus in ea nautis eversa fuerit, et nautae perierint a u t obierint, mercedem a n n u a m usque dum annus integer exactus fuerit, nautarum heredibus solvatur. Qui vero scapham ipsam incolum em servat cum instrum entis, restituat omnia, quem adm odum reapse invenerit, mercedis loco partem q u in ta m accipiens.
I n th i s c a se , d is r e g a r d in g t h e f ir s t p a r t , t h a t t a lk s a b o u t th e w a g e s o f th e s a ilo rs t h a t d ie in th e sk iff, th e te x t c o m m e n ts o n th e re s c u e o f th e a u x ilia r y v e s s e l, w e do n o t k n o w i f i t ’s b y re m o v a l o r fin d in g a s i t c a n n o t b e in f e r r e d c le a rly fro m th e te x t, b u t th e f a c t is t h a t th e c o m p e n s a tio n is v a lu e d in a fif th o f th e v a lu e in e q u a l p ro p o rtio n s to th o s e c a s e s in w h ic h th e re s c u e o f goods is c a r r ie d o u t d u r in g m a r in e d is tr e s s 58.
3. A ssista n ce and rescu e o f boatm en
T h e a s s is ta n c e d o e s n o t r e a lly m e a n a re s c u e , re m o v a l o r fin d in g , i t m e a n s h e lp in d a n g e r s itu a tio n s in w h ic h th e v e s s e l t h a t is i n d a n g e r m a y c o lla b o ra te w ith h e lp o f s m a lle r v e s s e ls o r sk iffs t h a t w ill fo rm a b o d y
58 Bas 53.8.45: si navis in mari correpta vorticibus aut corrupta fuerit, qui aliquid in terram ex ea salvum exportat, mercedis loco rei conservatae quintam partem consequatur.
o f o r g a n iz e d b o a tm e n c o rp o ra to ru m s c a p h o r iu m 59 a s d e s c rib e d in d if fe re n t e p ig r a p h ic so u rc e s. T ra c k in g e p ig r a p h ic so u rc e s a llo w s u s to d isc o v e r th e e x is te n c e o f p ro fe s s io n a l a s s o c ia tio n s in th e m a r in e field . N u m e ro u s r e f e r e n ces to th e e x is te n c e o f th i s b o d y o f b o a tm e n s t a n d o u t i n O s tia a n d a lso in H is p a n ia , in th e B a e tic a a r e a a n d in S e v ille 60.
T h e R o m a n s d id n o t c le a rly d is tin g u is h re s c u e o r a s s is ta n c e o r th e o riz e a b o u t th e s e in s titu tio n s . A lth o u g h , fro m th e ju r id ic a l so u rc e s , t h e i r k n o w le d ge a b o u t i n s titu tio n s t h a t d e a l w ith th e r e tr ie v a l, r e m o v a l a n d re s c u e in th e s e a m a y b e d e d u c e d . A s w e ll a s a s s is ta n c e a n d h e lp to v e sse ls. R e g a rd in g th e b o a tm e n a n d t h e i r a c tiv itie s , th e y p ro v id e d : 1) a s s is ta n c e ; tu g g in g v e s s e ls 61 a n d also in th e m a n o e u v re fo r b e r th in g in th e p o rts ; 2) t r a n s h i p o f goods, e i t h e r d u r in g a n a v e ra g e o r fo r th e u n lo a d in g o f th e goods;
3) a n d w e a lso t h i n k t h a t t h e y c a r r ie d o u t c o lla b o ra tio n t a s k s in th e fin d in g a n d re s c u e o f goods.
T h e re is n o d o u b t a b o u t th e im p o r ta n c e o f th e s c a p h a r ii62 a s r e g a r d s r e s c u e s a n d a lso th e a s s is ta n c e t h e y g iv e to th e r e s t o f th e v e s s e ls , b o th in r iv e r s a n d i n th e s e a , w ith th e a im o f r e a c h in g th e e x p e d itio n safely. T h e a c tiv ity m e n tio n e d in th e ju r id ic a l s o u rc e s m e n tio n s ab o v e a ll th e a s s is ta n c e in t r a n s h i p s in th e c a s e s o f a v e ra g e s .
C a llis tr a tu s e m p h a s iz e s th e a s s is ta n c e b y t r a n s h i p o f sk iffs i n th e e n tr a n c e o f a p o r t o r o f a r iv e r in Q u a e s t. II, D .1 4 .2 .4 p r:
N avis onustae levandae causa, quia intrare flum e vel p o rtu m non potuerat cum onere, si quaedam merces in scapham traiectae sunt,ne a u t extra flu m en periclitetur, a u t in ipso ostio vel portu eaque sacpha subm ersa est, ratio haberi debet inter eos, qui in nave merces salvas habent, cum his qui in scapha perdiderunt, proinde, tanquam si iactura esset, idque Sa b in u s quoque libro secundo Responsorum probat. Contra si scapha cum parte m ercium salva est, navis periit, ratio haberi non debet eorum, qui in nave perdiderunt, quia iactus in tributum nave salva venit63.
59 Inscription in the port of Ostia CIL XIV.409 = Orelli 4109: item corpor(atorum)-scapha- riorum et lenuncularior(um) traiec(us) Luculli et - dendrophorum et togator(um) a foro et de sacomar(is) [...] that does not have a name for the port where the duties are carried out due to its itinerary nature unlike others that are appointed to certain places Baetis scapharii Hispa- lenses CIL II.1180(167) y scapharii Romulae consistentes II.1183 also see CIL II.1168,1669.
60 D’Ors, Epigrafia juridica de la Espana romana, Madrid, 1953, p. 383, 390-392 shows that the inscriptions on the associated organization belongs to a second period in which they were authourized for public utility and that during the fall of the Empire is converted into necessary corporations together with the navicularii.
61 Festus, Pauli Excerpta 279 (Lindsay 347) Remulco est, cum scaphae remis navis magna trahitur. (281) Promulco afi dicitur navis, cum scapha(e) ducitur fune.
62 Walde-Hofmann, op. cit., p. 489; Ernout-Mellet v. Scapha, 600 boat-ship (etym. scapha- rius - scaphonis. scaphula), V.I.R. V,257. Dirksen,op. cit., 864 =navicula exigua.
63 Paul Sent. 2.7.4: Levandae navis gratia merces in scapham transiectas atque ideo amissas intributione earum, quae in navi salvae erunt, refici convenit; nave autem perdita conservate cum mercibus scaphae ratio non habetur.
