The Spray was a Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of maritime salvage. In the case, the Spray was a vessel that had been abandoned by its crew and was in danger of sinking. A salvage vessel, the Resolute, was sent to rescue the Spray and its cargo. The Resolute was successful in rescuing the Spray and its cargo, and the owners of the Spray sought to pay the Resolute for its services. The Resolute, however, argued that it was entitled to a larger sum than what the owners of the Spray were offering. The Supreme Court ultimately sided with the Resolute, ruling that the Resolute was entitled to a larger sum than what the owners of the Spray were offering. The Court reasoned that the Resolute had taken on a great risk in rescuing the Spray and its cargo, and that the Resolute should be compensated for its efforts. The Court also noted that the Resolute had acted in good faith and had acted with reasonable care in rescuing the Spray and its cargo. As such, the Court held that the Resolute was entitled to a larger sum than what the owners of the Spray were offering.

In the case of The Spray, a majority opinion was issued by the US Supreme Court which held that a vessel's owner could not be liable for damages caused to another vessel due to negligence. However, in his dissenting opinion Justice Field argued that an owner should be responsible for any damage their ship causes regardless of whether it is intentional or negligent. He reasoned that since owners are aware of the risks associated with operating vessels on navigable waters they should bear responsibility when accidents occur and other ships suffer harm as a result. Furthermore, he argued that if owners were allowed to escape liability then there would be no incentive for them to take proper precautions while navigating and this could lead to more dangerous conditions on waterways. Ultimately, Justice Field believed it was unjustified for an owner who negligently operated their vessel and caused damage to another ship not have any legal obligation towards those affected by their actions.