The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-17
HE'LL GATE PILOTS.

Their Duties, Organization. Number and
Nnnrs-.afes Of Pilotage-Dnugers OF Hell.
Gate-Pilots and Their Crafts.
Second only to the pilots OF Sandy Hook Va their I'm.
porance commerce and the avsing public are the
pilots OF He'll Gate. whose duties Of inland
character, but nevertheless arduous aud dangerous
They not a class, chat may be termed ssamen,
although all Of them have thorough ~Iedge OF the
Of working both foreand-af and square rugged
vessels; they are however, thoronghgoing pilots in
duties To give the public knowledge OF those Duties
and how performed, 10 the object OF this article.
DANGERS OF EAST RIVER NAVIGATION
Tho principal dangers and difficulties connected with
the navigation OF the East rivcrhat body tide water
connecting New York bay with Long Island sound,
being twenty-five miles In isngthare occasoned by the
existence Of OF rocka called Hell Gae, through
which the tidal with violence sufficient to
resemblance to the boiling waters Of immense
cauldron. Persons living In around New York have
become passing through this place that
they think little nothing Of its dangers although
. year passes that does witness the sinking or
grounding Of number Of sailing vessels and sometimes
steamers, Of the Aforesaid prosub erances OF
To strangers, ho~svoE He'll Gate 10 place OF
interest pass through which BY daylight is TO have
OF the many notsbe features Of great
try. Not unfrequsntly has It been asksd Why some
definite steps not taken TO remove the
distractions at almost any cost and the question has
yet received any good and sufficient answer 1t
b again asked The channel Of the East river has
depth Of water Of from seven TO nine fathoms-six
feet 10 the fathoul-and II cleared OF the dangerous
rocks above below and At He'll Gate would present
inland stream unequalled fer NJ navigabss qualities.
Nevertheless the thsrs and while there pilots
are necessary
The frat ref Of rocks 10 nearly half way between
T~-t N~sv Va n L. Iu~~
the Lower Middle has . depth Of six feet Of water
u low tide and extends about ave hundred feet up and
down the river and Two hundred feet across There s
another smaller reef on Fifteenth street, and then the
deep from shore 10 shore until within about
shree-quartsn Of . mile Of BiackwsIs Island. each
side Of which channel. the 10 the westward
being deep, with bold shore. and the eastward ono
shallow. Immsdatsiy II the Southeastern end OF
Blackwsrs Island commences Hell Gaze. the average
width OF the channel through which eight huYdrsd
Il. ss . .sS
Great Mn ION which 10 erected . shapsyl Little Mill.
Flood, Hogs Back, Rylsndsr's Rssf Pus Rock, Ways
are under water even n low tide TIE depth OF water
the elsewhere in the river. From Hell Gate
clear with the exception OF reef called the Upper
Middle Ground, on which there der III Of ten feet
% s, snuse m.s
Long Island sound opens out wish good navigation for
crafts Of any sixe
Was passed April 10 ls<I, and amended March, 1880
and 1855 II provides for the government Of the pilots
OF He'll Gate by tho Port wardens " New YORK; In like
manner as the Sandy HOOK plots are governed By .he
Board VI Pilot Commissioned Win The exception that
person who mas ssr'ef The proper term and passed
examination before the wardens and experienced
pilots recommended by the Board Tor the coonrma.
Of the Governor and the State Senate Al present
the Board OF Pou Warmers 10 composed as foows:-
Minthorne Tompkins, Pres deot; J. A. HERMAN. Sec
Rotary; c Barstow, W. Wilson. J. Ferguson,
J. r. Enery, W. H. Buriegh, =. b. Seaman, samuel
y. Russell and Martin Thatcner.
Any person who has serted three years ~ pilots
apprentice aud can pa sthc requisite examination receives
deputy pilots license 10 pilot veseis drawing e,ght
feet OF ~a,er In two years, alter passing other cxan
nations BY which the appcaut has 20 prove hts dtuess
Tor the position By thorough kpowsdss OF the rocks
aud other dangers OF the East rve and also his per-
feet ability TO manage all OF vessels, license a.
full piol granted. Bonds the amount OF 600
given for good behavior and proper performances Of
duty
Tue pilot who FIRST boards speaks . ve.sol coming
into port or going out BY way Of Hen Gate aud offers
his services Is suca receive ths pilosga PROVIDED
speaking q weasel has other vessel actually IN
Charge. Any pilot who brings vessel coming into
port Is entitled 10 take her out provided
she goes out the fame way, and he must rpHt
for duty twenty-fuur hours befovc the time Of sanns
No pilot II Aowcd 10 leave vessel under hts charge
coming in until on the Battery os.tns vessels place Of
dstent in New York. unless h. the consent OF the
master OF such vessel For Unnecessary dstent
pilots paid 81 per day. All >aspu.es and contro-
versics not settled among tue pilots themselves
referred 10 the Fort Wardens and Of trial for
derelicton Of duty the wardens the testimony
aud their decision 70 the Governor tor hts confirmation
or rejection. yearly return made by the pilots 70
the wardens Of the number Of pilots deputy pilots and
apprentices, and the number Of bvass owned BY the
pilots
GATES or rItorAcE
The following 10 table Of the lawful rates Of He'll
Gate piIo;age, The rates being the both ways:
AND scuooSsns--runs AMI ART.