Saturday, August 11, 2012
"Odyssey Marine learns that finders aren't keepers"
For some reason, I'm conflicted on this.
I do know it's right to return found things to their rightful owner.
On the other hand, there are statutes of limitations on so many things.
Treasure hunters basically assume all of the expense and risks, while current governments can share in the findings?...
I do know it's right to return found things to their rightful owner.
On the other hand, there are statutes of limitations on so many things.
Treasure hunters basically assume all of the expense and risks, while current governments can share in the findings?...
J. Keith Johnson writes a bit about it at DailyCaller.com:
"Spain used to take all sorts of precious metals from Peru, using the nationals there as laborers for their efforts. During the 1800s an incredible amount of wealth transferred across the Atlantic as Spanish taskmasters plundered the Peruvians. You’d think they thought the gold was theirs to take.
The Mercedes was a Spanish Royal Naval frigate sunk by Britain in combat in 1804. Its cargo consisted of 900,000 silver pesos and 5,809 golden pesos, as well as some copper and tin. Odyssey, two centuries later, discovered the wreck about 100 miles off the Straits of Gibraltar. Upon bringing up almost 600,000 coins, the Odyssey salvage ship was confronted by Spanish naval ships and told that they were holding Spanish sovereign property."
