During a voyage, the master of a vessel is a general agent for each of the owners of the cargo, and has authority to do whatever they might do for the preservation of their respective interests, but he can not sell or hypothecate the cargo, except in the cases mentioned in this chapter.
Cal. Harb. & Nav. Code § 812
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.