ยง 136. Detention  of  wreck. All sheriffs, and all persons employed by
  them, and all other persons aiding and assisting  in  the  recovery  and
  preservation  of  wrecked  property,  shall  be entitled to a reasonable
  allowance as salvage for their services, and to all expenses incurred by
  them in the performance of such services, out of the property saved, and
  the officer having the custody of such property shall  detain  the  same
  until such salvage and expenses shall be paid and the salvage claimed in
  any  case  shall  not  exceed  one-half  of the value of the property or
  proceeds, and every agreement, order or adjustment  allowing  a  greater
  salvage shall be void.
Structure New York Laws
130 - Powers and Duties of Sheriff.
130-A - Applicability to Abandoned Historic Shipwrecks.
132 - Delivery of Wreck or Proceeds to Claimant.
137 - Appointment of Appraisers.
138 - Sale and Disposition of Property.
139 - Publication of Notice of Wrecked Property.
139-A - Keeping Wrecked Goods a Misdemeanor.