N.Y. Nav. Law § 130

§ 130. Powers and duties of sheriff. The sheriff of every county in\nwhich any wrecked property shall be found, when no owner or other person\nentitled to the possession of such property shall appear, shall\nseverally take all necessary measures for saving and securing such\nproperty; take possession thereof, in whose hands soever the same may\nbe, in the name of the people of the state; cause the value thereof to\nbe appraised by disinterested persons, and keep the same in some safe\nplace to answer the claims of the persons entitled thereto.\n