New-York tribune., 1871-07-07
OBSTACLES TO COMMERCE..
COMPULSORY PILOTAGE AND EXCESSIVE QUAR-
ANrlNE-PILOT LAWS, FEES, AND OBSOLETE
ENACTIONS QUARANTINE or COASTERS
COMPLICATED INSIIRANCE.

AHlOHb OJncT minor obstacles 10 tne prosper |
ty of commerce at this port the system Of compulsory
piloage has been more than strongly protested
against. but without avail! The Legislature has
deemed proper TO relieve shipping OF the exacons Of old
laws no longer necessary and practically oppressive by
law of 1883. constituting the Pilot Commission OF this
port embracing representatives OF the Chamber OF Com
merce and the Board of Marine Underwriters, several
regulations made which have since been found in
operative and oppressive but which, it would seem can
not be repealed without effort because they enable
large number of pilots 10 get their subsistence by tax
trade. BY that law. pilots are entitled to take out the
vessels which they bring in unless complaint has been
made about them II the vessel wants to change
pilot the Commissioners may take another from the
boat but pilot he must take The fees are "a fol-
lows; Merchant vessels bound inward except exempt
coasters Gc that are less than Il feet draugh s. 70 per
foot IA feet and less than IS feet 81 5O 8 feet and un
der 81 feet e. 90 n feet and upward. 20 3D.
For all vessels oneulrter extra ploage must he paid
when they boarded far outside that Sandy Hook
Light cannot be seen in fair weather Fees for outward
bound vessels for those less than IA feet draft - 70
per foot IA feet and less than 3 feet s. TO- Is feet and
less than 81 feet a. ij. Between November and AprI
l. 81 is to he added to each full potagc Three dollars
the price allowed for detentons at Quarantine or
elsewhere by the pilot who is carried 10 sea
when his vessel waiting tor him. must be- paid 300
month by the owner the vessel abducting him. For
moving vessels from the North to the East River s. ia
20 be paid. Coasters under 800 tuns need not take
pilot The penalty for plotting without license Is not
| TO be over 500
Pilot boats usually owned by the half dozen men
who SAIL them A. the end of each month the boat a.
Owners) take about 2j per cent of the proceeds
as their regular dvidend then the store bills paid
then the crews pay Commissioners aud Collectors fees
deducted; the remainder is equally divided among all
the pilots who sailed the voyage which often includes
two who not owners and have no other profit
| but this final and doubtful dividend.
| The trials, suforings and herosm Of the NewYork
pilots have often been set before the public the especial
object of TIN, article show what there is that may lie
considered obsolete about their mode of doing business
and the laws which protect them in 1t also wherein
they may be considered putting obstacles in the way
OF commerce visit to several leading shipping mer
chants has furnished material tor some practical cr
cisms upon the pilots, The impression prevails among
shippers that the system of pOtage in vogue at tins
port was well enough while the business in It's in
fancy and needed fostering but that now 1t Il old
enough and strong enough TO stand alone and should he
! allowed 70 do The most obnoxious feature Is the
COmpulsiOn. leading member Of the shippers AsSoci
alton acknowledged that this forcing Of pilOage upon
ships customary al Europe but said that the
project aboshng the compulsory laws is lgltating IN
all the maritime cities Of that continent. Committee
Of the English House of Parliament now considering
this matter and is expected to report IN favor Of the
| abolition.
In faco Of all protest the last Legislature Of the state
of New-York potlse compulsory IN HUI Gate
fixing the rates at per foot for square rggcd and
- fOro and aft vessels. Here again half plotage
must paid If pilot il taken. The amount due must
he paid the first pilot who speaks the vessel IL is
claimed that this peculiarly absurd when 10 out Of 20
vessels that pass through url Gate towed 10y tugs
ANY such forcing process quite ksome TO the Amer
can mind No matter how thoroughly able captain
may his ship in he Is accosted far out to sea-
Or wherever else with DO you want pilot 2! He an
No" and tine next he hears OF this pathfinder u
thn IN bill said the lndlg
nant shipper "a Chathlmst jew should say Do
you coat you should reply in the negative, and
the retort should he. Here is my Bill"
The shipper said that there too pilots and TOO
many boats. Indeed. pilots acknowledge that they
wouid be better of they had boats though they
claim that the mercano public would not pe ~ well
served in that because the remaining boats would
be compelled uger Sandy HOOK instead OF going
far The retort OF the shipper to the statement Of
the pilots that their number has not increased in ten
years is, Neither has tho commerce OF the city" lie
SAID that the mercantile marine would be just well
served If one-thrd of the pilots went into other
business because about that proportion OF their income
Is from the unearned hallpotage Abolish that regu
lation and the trade would throw out large
| number OF its members.
The burden Of pilOagc Ne said bears unevenly upon
the different vessels III the coasters instance great
steamers exempt on the plea that they carry pilots
OF their own but small vessels that carry passengers
and have rough and uncertain freight must pay regu-
secure laws to them To show the folly of compel
ling ships pay for THISTLE galized assistance he cited
the fact that few years merchant could hire no
weigher who had not been licensed at Albany Now eff
weghers to he had who learn and practice their
trade like any other mechanics
II was further objected that pilots not az all re-
sponsbe for accidents befang the ships when under
their charge. II a ship goes ashore shOa the
pilot he steps off simply says "sOrry for you cap
tain" and that s the end OF IT. This is generally the
all countries, except Spain and Cuba, where
pilots appointed by Government, and accidents oc
curing during Their control OF ships paid for by the
authorities
Tie interesting theory was advanced BY this gentle
man that if the compulsory pilOtage law repealed
steamtugs would enter largely upon it, As it s they
do a great part OF the practical work. case wa' in
stanced where this shipper had gone to with friend
on tug He came back the little steamer at night;
meanwhile pilot had made $50 by similar jlunt
on the vessel.
1t has been calculated that every coaster pays 81 per
tun every year for compulsory pilotage. Every small
vessel of 300 ns must pay this tax every time she
enters port which may occur 20 or 80 times year
The same informant, discussing Quarantine regula-
TONS said that saHing coasters should be made 10
stop if they did carry passengers. Such vessels
usually carry coal lumber, and naval stores The un-
necessary Quarantine fees taken from them estima
ted at $4,000 year. while they lose by the detention
S50OOl Few coasters have much trouble at the Lower
Quarantine; Dut tley must cast dncnOf dI tne upper
Quarantine and wait for the doctors boat They thus
often lose a fair wind and tide The doctors author
lied 10 keep each vessel "a hours The ShpOwncrs As
socation have received opinion from their ezal
m adverse 10 the present system OF compelling coasters
passing this port and bound through Hur Gate to New
England States 10 undergo Quarantine Any such now
attempting 10 pass without stopping are speedily over
hauled and brought back.
The ship0vAers petitoned last year 10 have the law
altered which obiges all vessels coming from south OF