It shall be lawful for the said commissioners to be appointed as aforesaid to decide on all claims and demands whatever which shall or may be made by pilots, hovellers, boatmen, and other persons, for services of any sort or description rendered to any ship or vessel, as well for carrying off from the shore to such ship or vessel any anchors, cables, or other stores from any part or port of the coast of Kent, Sussex, Essex, or the isle of Thanet, within the jurisdiction aforesaid, as for the conducting and conveying such ships and vessels from the Downs, and other bays and roadsteads on the coast of Kent, Sussex, and Essex, and the island of Thanet, or from the sea or any other place, to Ramsgate, Dover, or any other harbour, port, or place on the said coasts within the jurisdiction aforesaid, or for the saving and preserving, within the jurisdiction aforesaid, any goods or merchandize wrecked, stranded, or cast away from any ship or vessel, the master or owners thereof or their agents being present at the place where the commissioners shall be sitting; and the said commissioners shall have full power and authority to hear and determine on all cases whatever of services rendered by pilots, boatmen, and others to shipping within the jurisdiction aforesaid, whether such ships or vessels shall be in distress or not; and it shall be lawful for the said commissioners, whenever they see occasion, to examine the parties or their witnesses upon their oaths, which oaths shall and may be administered by the said secretary or register.