The master of a vessel, upon abandoning it, shall carry with him, so far as it is in his power, the money and the most valuable of the goods on board, under penalty of being personally responsible. If the articles thus taken are lost from causes beyond his control, he is exonerated from liability.
Cal. Harb. & Nav. Code § 807
Ship Masters and Cargoes
Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 368.
Official source: California Legislative Information. Reproduced from public-domain California statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.