N.Y. Nav. Law § 131

§ 131. Sale of wreck. If the property so saved shall be perishable, so\nas to render the sale thereof expedient, the officer, in whose custody\nthe same shall be, shall apply to the county court of the county, or the\ncity court of the city, where such property may be, by a verified\npetition stating the facts, for an order authorizing such sale; if the\ncourt shall be satisfied that a sale of the property would be most\nbeneficial to the parties interested, it shall make the order so applied\nfor, and the officer having custody of the property shall sell the same\nat public auction, at the time and in the manner specified in the order,\nand the proceeds of such sale, deducting the expenses allowed by the\ncourts, shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the\nproperty shall have been found.\n