Bava Metzia 38B

למאי חזו? שמן חזי לגלדאי, דבש לכתישא דגמלי.

for what use are they fit? According to the Rabbis, one sells them in court. Apparently, they must have some value. The Talmud answers: Oil is fit for tanners who would coat the hides with oil even if it had a foul odor. Honey it fit as a salve for a wound on the back of camels.

וחכמים אומרים: עושה להם תקנה ומוכרן בבית דין. מאי תקנתא עביד להו? אמר רב אשי: לקנקנים.

It is taught in the baraita: And the Rabbis say that the bailee effects a remedy for the spoiled products and sells them in court. The Talmud asks: What remedy does he effect for those products? Rav Ashi said: It is a remedy for the casks. Although the contents of the jug are irreversibly spoiled, leaving it in the jugs will ruin the jugs.

במאי קא מיפלגי? דמר סבר: להפסד מרובה ⁠– חששו, להפסד מועט ⁠– לא חששו. ומר סבר: אפילו להפסד מועט נמי חששו.

The Talmud asks: Since R' Meir agrees that when there is deterioration at a rate greater than its standard rate of deterioration, the bailee should sell the deposit, with regard to what issue do R' Meir and the Rabbis disagree? The Talmud answers: The dispute is that one Sage, R' Meir, holds: The rabbis were concerned for a significant loss, but the rabbis were not concerned for an insignificant loss, like damage to the jugs. And one Sage, the Rabbis, holds: The rabbis were concerned even for an insignificant loss.

רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר ימכרם בבית דין, מפני שהוא כמשיב אבידה לבעלים. אתמר, רבי אבא ברבי יעקב אמר רבי יוחנן: הלכה כרבן שמעון בן גמליאל. ורבא אמר רב נחמן: הלכה כדברי חכמים.

§ The Mishnah teaches that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: He sells it before the court, due to the fact that in doing so he is like one returning a lost item to the owner. It was stated that R' Abba, son of R' Ya’akov, says that R' Yoḥanan says: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. And Rava says that Rav Naḥman says: The halakha is in accordance with the statement of the Rabbis.