Prize

In admiralty law. A vessel or cargo, belonging to one of two belligerent powers, apprehended or forcibly captured at sea by a war-vessel or privateer of the other belligerent, and claimed as enemy's property, and therefore liable to appropriation and condemnation under the laws of war. See 1 C. Rob. Adm. 228. Captured property regularly condemned by the sentence of a competent prize court. 1 Kent, Comm. 102. In contracts. Anything offered as a reward of contest; a reward offered to the person who, among several persons or among the publlc at large, shall first (or best) perform a certain undertaking or accomplish certain conditions.

— Prize courts. Courts having jurisdiction to adjudicate upon captures made at sea in time of war, and to condemn the captured property as prize if lawfully subject to that sentence. In England, the admiralty courts have jurisdiction as prize courts, distinct from the jurisdiction on the instance side. In America, the federal district courts have jurisdiction in cases of prize. 1 Kent, Comm. 101-103, 353-360. See Penballow v. Doane, 3 Dall. 91, 1 L. Ed. 507; Maley v. Shattuck, 3 Cranch, 488, 2 L. Ed. 498; Cushing v. Laird, 107 U. S. 69, 2 Sup. Ct. 196, 27 In Ed. 391,

— Prize goods. Goods which are taken on the high seas, jure belli, out of the bands of the enemy. The Adeline, 9 Cranch, 244, 284, 3 In Ed. 719.

— Prize law. 'The system of laws and rules applicable to the capture of prize at sea; its condemnation, rights of the captors, distribution of the proceeds, etc. The Buena Ventura (D. Ct) 87 Fed. 929.

— Prise money. A dividend from the proceeds of a captured vessel, etc., paid to the captors. U. S. v. Steever, 113 In S. 747, 5 Sup. Ch 765, 28 L. Ed. 1133.