The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-06
THE SUBJECT OF PILOrAGE.

The following paper appertalning to the subject
OF pilOtage win DC found OF interest at The present
time:-
The undersigned, representatives OF the Boston
Marine Society and Underwriters OF that port, men
OF long practical experience in nautical matters,
beg leave respectfully 10 present TO you in Us con-
else manner as possible their reasons for The con-
tinuance Of the present system OF compulsory pilot
age:
provide SUFFICIENT number or skilled plots W con.
duct all vessels 10 and from Its limits AT all proper
tunes OF day or night with the least possible delay
and the greatest possible amount OF safety.
That It IS OF the hrst Importance shipmaster In
approaching port should feel that at certain well.
dcinea points and places he Will OBTAIN competent
and eicient plo,, On whose skill ann JUDGMENT ne
can Iey. and whose pay Tor services rendered Is
That the vessel not requiring pilot but compel
led to take or pay for one only II hs services are
Oered Is in no degree rendered less sale by having
| pilot on board but the vessel needing q pilot and
unable 10 obtain one, rs with all lives and property
| on board, thereby lmperlped.
That as rule no occupation can be so we'll under
stood or conducted by amateurs or inexperts as 0y
| those who have made IT the study and business OF
their lives. ana that masters OF vessels, fisher
| men or ooatmcn can so well know the tidal sets and
currents, changing OF lights and beacons, shifting
OF shoals ana channels, condition OF r0ddsteads and
haroors, as pilots whose livelihood depends upon
Ell off aen"0ie 70 Tue "a" '0f Inc proper apO''ca'0n
Tnat the abolition OF compulsory pilotage would
bring TO the business reckless, incompetent,
INSCRIPTIONS and exacting, who, when most
needed would be least likely TO be found, aud
We belleve That as pilots services are never
tentered pay demanded, except on a Vessels
arrival departure from port the frequency or IN
frequency OF such offers or demands nave no bear
ing Whatever Oh the merits or dement's OF The pilot.
age question.
That the hardship TO owners or agents of vessels
by enforced payment OF pll0tage falls into nslgnn
canoe when it Is borne in mind that, like 1regnt,
duties, landing charges other expenses. 1t Is
actually borne by the consumer Of the goods whose
conveyance has given The vessel employment.
That every owner or agent OF a vessel engagng
business takes into consideration ana bases MS cal
cuaOns on the expenses vi the ports sne Is 10 visit,
making his demand Tor services pr0porlonate
thereto
That the statement Put forth in the circular OF the
Boston Board OF Trade, that liability OF payment
Tor pilots services when rendered only, be II re-
memoeredl is "a tax levied on particular depart
ment OF business Tor the support Of a few private
1ndfviduas," IS unjust ana untrue; IL being but
regulation made IN all good latin ny independent
men In various large commercial cities OF The world
Tor the safety and advancement OF commerce; and
the force OF pilots like That Of the Police or FIRE
Department, organized and kept i'll condition Tor
the good OF the whole community; though some
may not wish II, yet all may need II.
The statement that some merchants whose mas
tiers are well acquainted with certain mar D0rs and
can dispense with plots services, 'are restve aud
seek TO avoid payment whenever they can, Is Dut
an admission tnat they are oil thai class ny far too
numerous, VINO never happy without grew
ate, nut always destroy, and are nothing II not re-
volut1OnaTy.
We 50 lar agree with the Board Of TRADE CIR.
cular, as TO think that no vessel carrying cargo
and trading without the limits oil the stale. should
be exempt from plioiage, when ,,, services are
offered, unless the master or some Other person on
BOARD Is licensed to act IN that capacity. .
The arguments OF "nr Ernst Wendt, OF London"
however c0gent and valuable, have so lar been un.
successful IN converting the average British mInd
to tins theory anu we earnestly hope ohe eloquent
arguments oil his disciples on ni side Oh the Allan
TIC Will nave no better results.
The system, or lack Of system, OF potage al Port.
land so ably pictured Tor our admiration IN the
cuar referred 10. seems TO by no meaus pertinent
10 the matter under DISCUSSION. Looking over the
wide range OF commercial cities it Is not ililicut to
toms regulating Its navigation and trade differs
from our cwn. Is that dirIcrence TO be adopted by
US simply because 1t Is dierenceY is II not pos
sl0ie that IN some one respect our law or custom
may be the wiser OF the tw02
10 say Otherwise Is 10 say that each port of the
world can De peter regulated ana governed by some
otner, or at all events ours is the port which, but
Tor the committee oi the Board OF Trade, should be
We believe the necessity FOR ana the value of
plots service can DC much better estimated by
practical men than by theorists, and that Tor any
large commercial port TO reduce the probabilities OF
an inward bound ship Tor obtaining q pilot from an
almost certainty to small chanceirom the Obtain
ing man OF certified competency and skill 10 one
OF whom nothing could oe known-irom an esta-
Dlished payment for services, based on equity, TO
one oil bargain, oifimes made under circumstances
0l great peril and based upon the ships expencies
would DC far more onerous and unjust than
any system OF compulsory piotaQe yet Known 10
the civilized word.
In conclusion, we would respectfully suggest that
though economy should be duly Studied IN every
branch OF industry, the higner considerations or
safety and humanity should take precedence IN all
Iuily, FRED. NICKERSON,
EBEN. H0WES
EBR DAVIS,
NATHANIEL SPOONER,
ISAAC SWEErSER,
Committee OF the Boston Marine society.
Francis Bacon, President China Mutual Insurance
Company; Stephen II. Billiard, President MeI'
camille Marine Insurance Company; jos. D. III,
toll, President Boston Insurance Company; Georsc
+. osborne. President Neptune INSURANCE Com i
pany; j. w. Balcn, President Boyisl9m r"c anu
Marine Insurance Company: j. II. Dane, iIesi,
dent India Mutual Insurance Company; samuei
Gould President Manufacturers INSURANCE oo I
PAW: W. NJ. Byrnes, President rrankln IN,
surSnce Company Jonn Z. Abbott, President
Shoe and Leather and FIRE and Marine insui ance
surance Company; Francis Curtis Acting Presi-
dent OF the Merchants, Insurance company;
George C. Lord, Attorney New England Insurance
xssocIatIon; q. Il. Guild. President American In