Supreme Court allows captain's share of salvage reward when acting professionally as a merchant seaman's employee.

The Supreme Court ruled that a ship captain employed by a professional merchant salvage service is entitled to a share of the salvage reward. The court found that the captain performed the salvage operations as part of his professional duties under a commercial contract, distinguishing him from a private individual. Consequently, the court held that the statutory conditions for awarding a share of the reward were met because the service was rendered in the course of professional employment.