The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-20 00:00:00

THE FORT OF SAY FRA ACISOO.

LIVERPOOL, Wednssday. —The following extract
from a communication received by an eminent firm in
this port from their correspondents in San Francisco,
regarding the pilotage and insurance on ships entering
and clearing from that port, was posted in the Under-
writere-rocn to-day :
" San Francisco, 'Tau. 26, 1876..

" We would beg to call the atteution of shipowners to
the advisability of having a clauso is their policies to the
following effect :---
" ' Ship allowed to leave the port of San Francisco with-
out a pilot, provided she is towed through the Heads and
beyond the Milo Rock by one of the regular tow-boats in
the harbour.' • •

"Our reasons for the above are manifold, and we will
give a few of them.
"In the first place, the exorbitant charge for pilotage,
of eight dollars per foot, with 5 per cent. additional for
commissioners' fees,

" Secondly.—We do not consider the pilots here more
capable than the general run of captains in command of
vessels arriving at this port, nor in any way superior to
the captains of either of the steam-tugs.
" Thirdly.—The eddy tides, both within and outside the
Heads, are numerous, and it often happens that in working
a ship out that the wind dies away, and the vessel is forced
to come to anchor, and there lay for days waiting a wind ;
thus adding the additionalC expense of eight dollars per d3y
for the pilot when so detaine.t; whereas, by having the aid
of a steamer, a vessel is taken beyond all danger, gets a
good offing, and proceeds to sea at once.
" We will just instance the case of the ship Lahore, Cap-
tain Tessyman, which vessel wo despatched on the 24th
inst. No pilot was taken (the one-half pilotage had to be
paid according to law). A splendid steamer, the Under-
writer, was engaged for 75 ools., to wed the ship full eight
miles to sea, against a heavy head-swell, and no wind, in
the space of one hour anti a half. Sundry vessels that
attempted to get to sea (same day) without the aid of
steam were forced to come to anchor, and were detained
some days by light and contrary winds.
" The half pilotage paid as above on 14l feet, at
4 doll. 50c 560.90
"Steam tug hire 75.00

$135.90
" Now, if no staamor had been taken and the full
pilotage paid of

"There would have only been a difference of 514.10
to the ship, but with the prospect of not getting to sea
for days.
" We threw out the foregoing so as to guide shipowners,
and leave it to them to judge upon the prudence of insert-
ing a clause in their policies sufficient to hold the ship
harmless in the event of proceeding to sea without a pilot,
but in tow of a steamer.

" We might add that there is roally no danger when the
ship has a steamer. At all eventgi, the capability of a San
Francisco pilot does not lessen it in any way."

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.)

LONDON, March 20.—Wind this day at noon, variable
light airs and dull cloudy weath"r.
PORTAMOUTH, March 19.—Wind N.W.—Arrived.—
Clifton (tpt.), from Malta ; Great Tasmanian, (tpt.), do. ;
Eagle, (tpt.), Plymouth ; Tartar, (s. tug), Liverpool, with
two of H.M. mortar boats in tow.
COWES, March 19.—Wind N. N. W.—Arrived—Mathild a
Camelia, from Callao.
JIRSEY, MarchlB.—Sailed—St. Anne, for Pernambuco.
SCARBOROUGH, Mai-ch 19.—The schooner Shamrock,
from Whitstable to the north, got on the rocks five miles
north of this port this morning, and is likely to become a
wreck—crew and stores saved.
FALMOUTH, March 19.—Wind N.—Arrived—Otto, from
Liniq no.
PENZANCE, March 18.—Wind N.—Sailed—All the wild
bound.
HARWICH, March 19.—Wind, S.W.—Sailed—All the
windbouud.
BEAUMARIS, March 19.—The Alice, of Conway, is on
shore at Dulas with slight damage.
LOWESTOFT, March 19.—The Grouse, from Ryl, to
Sunderland, went on shore here on the 15th inst., and has
been sold as she lies, together with her cargo.

(FEU 2TACTRIO TELEHRApH.I
SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday Morning.
Arrived—Brannock, Arbutus, Mechanic's Own, and
Betsey, Cardiff; Wonder and South Western, steamers,
Jersey ; Alliance (s), Havre; Charlotte, Guernsey.
Sailed-:-Two Sisters, Nancy. and Constantia, for Sun-
derland; Oswell, New ; Mary. Poole; Emily Ann,
Dublin ; Express (s), Jersey ; Argyll (s), Carentan ; Ata-
lanta (s), Havre.
_ .

LIVERPOOL, Thursday Morning.

Wind N.W.
Arrived—Henrys, from Alexandria ; Victor, Ostend ;
Enigheclen. Veratero, Granite, and Western Chief, New
Orleans; Delta, Havre; Majestic, Santander; Telegraph,
Jersey.
Sailed—Spartan, for Smyrna ; Victoria, Mobile ; Anna
A. Tyng, Havannah ; Princess }toyed, Calcatts ; Standard,
Halifax; Lively, Constantinople.
QUEENATOWN, March 11.
Sailed—Johanna, Barhadoes ; Cambria, Trinidad ; Ber-
wick Walls, Antwerp; Devonian, Barhadoes ; Josephine,
Philadelphia.

(BT SUBMARINE AND BRITISEt TRUISNAPN.I
GRAVESEN.D, Thursday. 10 a.m.
Wind W.N.W. ; tido one hour and a half's flood ; rain•

Arrived, March 20.—Chanticleer, (a.), from Bala.klava ;
Iron Age, (s.), Gibraltar.
Sailed.—Contest, for Calcutta ; App is
Gottenborg.
DEAL, Thursday, 9.36 a.in.

Wind N.N W. ; moderate.
gassed.-- Gambia, (s.s.), from Sierra Leone, for London ;
Revenge, St. Michael's, London ; her Majesty's (s.) Doe,
Portsmouth Wooly. ich; Audr.moda, Newport; Sawinde,
Lisbon ; Poinpier. Brost; Lizzie Gowan, Smyrna; Star,
Cardiff; Comet, Bermuda ; Celeritaa, Jamaica ; Excelsior,
Corfn ; Brougham, Port Natal; Cyclone, Sydney—all from
London.

lIER MAJESTY'S TETEATRE.—The rumours relative to
the opening of Her Majesty:a Theatre for operatic per-
formances this reason are wi.thout. the slightest founda-
tion. Mr. Balfe knows nothing of his reported appoint-
ment as musical director.