New-York tribune., 1867-03-08
THE COAST PILOTS.
sEw.yoRK gARBoR Pnors-PERns AND HAhDehI0
Of THEIR SooATroN-Loss or TUE PH0r'RoAr

- Of THEIR SocATIoN-Loss or TUE PI0r'SoAr
The wrecking of the pilot-boat VIM. Bell, No. "a,
off Moptauk Point op Monday last reported In THE
TnrBUSE Of yesterday viii attract attention to the Pc
culiar difficulties and dangers to which our coast piots
arc subject So little is generally known OF these men
and their mode of operation that sketch of their duties
win be interesting Every navigator breads the shore IN
storm than he does tho pers OF the open sea-
cuar dangers Of REEFS shoals and bluffs along the en-
frances harbors something more is Than %
stretching from RSSSs n Ss1ss Reef o on
renders it difficult Of The projecting he9 dland
Of sndg HSSf sna mSre ss
se Benesth the surface Of the sea, srted with snken
rocks 9nd s y f. Wh Dangers difficult
fills the minds Of the most expeIienced navigator
TsS suSSess q last
stage the navigator dependent upon the pOs who has
aHa sg tgcnnSsetsS m SesSS' with our pO. system is Now
York and NewJssy Rlos tas former rSnnng e.
Board Of three q whom are appointed BY
the Chamber OF Commerce. and the two cnosen
the 1$ @6
pilots is at the corner OF South and Fnltonsts Eaon
d pe1Sss eSaSSon s 70 his fitness for position
must thoroughly the % o. ne aaes
soundngs bearings and distance OF tAe pas
3 and snd 1t enforce ne all neodu rules
regulations conduct and government Of the pilots
The are 50 wfaand ade the most
gale, Their average dimensions are about & W iees sat III
Their tnnnSge is about iJO old measurement They are
schooner riggcd, with foressil, mansaL ana giD sos
Each boat carries number plainly painted upon the
malnsa as TO be distinctly seen for miles Eacn Doat
o five Vessels ssS sy &
keeper who s the sailing master whose duty 70 afe @
and 70 bring back TO the city to walt their ARRIVAL
The s o@ sOrs 1Ta sho the
east to Cape May the South Often they board steam
CUSTOM sT sS' %'' To continue cns unt
pilots upon tho boat t have r. Geen Rysv R@I but but
nS 4 aso iendy Each boat has its pecusrtes
sailing bost before the wind and Others against IT, some
Coming vesseIs While others 90 the south Sometimes
the pilot boat encounter eSt Of yssSe. % 1s 1os AZ
TO return TO the city in ono or two days other times
may about IS 20 days before oil ts pilots have been
IL esmar %hen TWO po boats bearing
from different points ve exciting s osn tSs tao Soat
about like shells that at times they cannot Dc seen
ts are nS nss
enoed eye OF the pilots will tell them there is cnace
Sd Sdas sSasnf viii ys%s and
site sides OF vessel The ono reaching the deck fst
ss a rns esrs Sinss Sssy
amount TO month After laying aside % per cent
Ds 'S aSd iu repairs G doductng fOr
sores &C. the balance Is divided equally between the
pcti Tyed in por they eplesh their sCrs and max
ing necessary repairs, they agsin start for sea-
ing vessels For merchant vessel drawing less tnan
s C % % fSS fGs ~ f: ssI per s
Fur II feet and upward % so per foot II tnc nasers or
St sny pase pI esy within sandy Hook Be taken %
the wharf harbor Of York, or tho vessel shonn p
Of 81 Fl. pds .ns S
when plot boards incoming vessel out OF sight OF
amount is aIloH ed. Which Il termed "offshore pilot
age The fees for plotting vessels 70 me sea are
and November o. Is added TO the i pilotage OF every
vessel coming ~ Sr g@pS on 70 sn SSsh tho fae
~ he potboa intercept the vessel and IN snch cass
The pilot may be Al unwilling niger ior "ee uP"h
Co,ng schooners of than 800 tuns burden sre not
SS hSroy 11h' take gssip
tho -FOUR esps pI tun All masters OH OF mnde,
S S ,rS G' 4SS 11S 1a sandy SSS ' Hook S
tohpcsd To tske tnsed pilot nor | prs o onhsru sr
10 ply the pilot frst haing them as u ne hta Dee
ho or ono his boats company shall be entitled to plo
her 20 SEQ when se nstt Ssyss .s rcansS,y
havn been made against him. and proved before the Gon
n H{ ~ pios % "nP s hTo ber into port Ss
s S5s ready and ,sss % Es sSa f sS pay f
Tho boats have 10 do station duty RSr sandy Hook
% S ST Of s SsT a1S a a. ss mi G"s i m o
duty OF the station boat 70 take out and receive pots
for sending them 10 the city.
Tho pilots are hardy. social jovla and courageous
cts. Jbey great daDgerb for small rcvaris and one
st the fnost beautiful and prominent monuments in
Greenwoo1 designed to commemorate ect OF herosm
On Tia part Of one OF coast pilots whs boarded tho
John MnurL which had gone ashore the Jersey
coast IN position OF great danger Tho efforts OF the
heroic pilot 60 work the vessel off In vain and he
went dowu with the ifated ship. His monument stand
Ing ~ II does npon OF tho highest points OF land IN the
Cootcry and overlooking the harbOr, may be seen by
pilot on his way 10 or on the city In tho pursuit
Of his dangerous calling.