The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-04-30 00:00:00

TUESDAY, A

guidance of such Pilots or their Apprentices as under that of
their own•commanders and mates; who are not only well ac-
quainted with the peculiarities of speed and steering of their re-
spective Vessels, but also accustomed to take them in and out of
port at all states of the tide and weather, and at night. and in the
dark.

That the Steam-vessels carrying the mails, and under the or-
ders of the Post Master General, are prohibited from taking
such_Pilots or their Apprentices on board.
Petitioners further state, that the printed by-laws of the port
of Liverpool, however they may be adapted to the wants and
circumstances of Vessels navigated by the aid of Sails, arc in-
compatible with the nature and wants of Steam-vessels, and the
more so as the system of priority, which prevails among the
Pilots' Boats at sea, without any regard to the situation or such
boats, or the difficulties or delay which might take place in
boarding the Steam-vessels, would be wholly destructive to
the use of Steam-vessels, were they compelled to wait and re-
ceive Pilots out of such Pilot-boats as might be first in rotation,
and which would often cause such delay as would occasion the
loss of the Tide, and the consequent risk and injury to their
Vessels and cargoes.
That, further, such Pilot Laws actually impose a heavy
penalty on Pilots presuming to pilot Vessels under such circum-
stances as are frequently occurring in the use of Steam-vessels;
thus making it au offence to do that which the owners of Steam-
vessels absolutely require for the protection and safe navigation
of their Vessels, in the ordinary pursuit of their trading.
That Masters of Vessels of 100 Tons Register, and which
arc generally of 120 Tons actual burthen, arc permitted to Pilot
their own Vessels, yet the Masters of Steam-vessels, although
in few instances do they actually burthen per cargo more than
such Sailing-vessels are obliged to receive Pilots or pay their
charges of Pilotage, and are compelled to place their Vessels
under the control of such Pilots or their Apprentices.
That the Apprentices .of Pilots, although they may not have
served one half of the time stated in their Indentures, and
which time is essential to obtain a competent knowledge of
their buiiness as Pilots, are, nevertheless, for the want of more
competent and experienced Pilots, frequently licensed by the
Pilot Committee to act as Pilots, and your Petitioners are
thereby compelled to place their Vessels under the entire
control of such Apprentices, or take the risk of the cargoes on
themselves.

That the Petitioners strongly object to the system of licens-
ing Apprentices of Pilots of the tender age of eighteen, and
after thus having. served but three years of their apprenticeship;
such system of licensing Apprentices being for the emolument
of their respective masters, the charge for Pilotage being the
same whether a Vessel be Piloted by an Apprentice or a full
journeyman Pilot.
That such is the effect of this system of monopoly and exclu;
sive Pilotage, that the Pilot boats, of which there are but eleven
for the Port, including the three separate entrances into the
same, and extending along a Coast of fifty miles, that the right'
of ownerage of one of such Boats, which originally cost £lOOO,
now actually sells for the enormous suin.of near i:10,000.
That the Steam-vessels of the Company arc not ensured, and
Petitioners necessarily are, alarmed at the consequences of
being thus compelled to allow. the authority of their Commander
to be thus superseded by such Apprentices.
Petitioners state, that there is at present, and has been, for
ome time back, a deficiency of Pilots in the Port of Liverpool,
and that there is not a sufficient number for the wants of the
port, and the extensive line of coast along.which they. are spread,
and that the only measure which Petitioners are informed is
about to be adopted to supply such deficiency is the compelling
the• Master Pilots to receive an additional number of Appren-
tices, but which, though it admits the want of a sufficient num-
ber of Pilots, cannot be available, at least under three years.
That the redress which your Petitioners seek by the interpo-
sition of Parliament has been actually granted by the proper
authorities to the Owners and Masters of other Steam-vessels
in other Ports, among, which is the important Harbour of Cork,
the Commissioners of that Harbour having wisely determined
that no charges should be made except for services actually re-
quired and performed; and your Petitioners are further ena-
bled to state, that the system of compelling Coasting Vessels
to take such Pilots and pay such charges, as the Corporation
of Pilots in the Ports of Liverpool and Dublin direct, does not
prevail in the Ports of Glasgow, Plymouth, or London.
Petitioners state, that they have lately proposed to the Pilot
authorities of the Port of Liverpool to examine and license
the Commanders of their several Steam-vessels, and that they
have proposed and are willing to pay annually for each of such
licenses the sum of £25, over and above all the deductions and
allowances now made for the Pilots, in support of the private
funds of their establishment.

That finding, from the proceedings of your Honourable
House, that a Select Committee is about to be appointed "to
inquire into the existing Laws and Regulations on Pilotage, with
a view to alter and amend the same,' your Petitioners humbly
pray your Honourable House to take the premises into consi-
deration, and to allow Petitioners to be heard by themselves
or Counsel before such Select Committee, with the view to such
inquiry as may lead to the relief sought for by your Petitioners.