The New York herald., 1874-09-21
LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE.
The Romance of a Pilots
Life.
Their Pay, Their Boats and Their
Dangers.
Tho Working OF the Law-Kesn Competition the
Life of the Protessou-The
He'll Gate Pilots

terest wnlch is lelt IN the pilot. The passengers
make up pools among themselves as to what hour
he will arrive or what his number may be. When
at length he comes aboard there is feeling of re-
he, for his presence is a guarantee that the good
ship Is near port
But, after all, what is a pilot? How few OF US
know beyond the fact that his duty is to take the
vessel into port. But what OF the dangers, hard
ships, romance and rewards Of his position. This
Is mystery to most people. We all have infinite
trust in him and his judgment; but WHY What
do We know more OF him excepting that he is the
pilot and a not generally very seductive person
In his general make up And yet there is q
feeling towards this unpresentable man which
we do not feel for the captain, with all his
gold lace and his suavty. 1t is no doubt that,
with those who are returning the pilot is the first
sight OF home. We could take him IN our arms
and hug him. so mighty pleasant is our feeling
toward him. With those who come to a strange
land it is the first glimpse OF the unknown-Of
America, the land OF ideality, of prosperity. OF
hope. For all that pilot is just like other men.
But then he brings the papers to some and always
some pleasant gossip OF what has taken place in
the great world OF news from which the vessel has
been separated for SO many days. Let US take a
glimpse into the life OF these men who are such
welcome guests.
THE LIFE.
The lie OF pilot is hard one in almost every
respect, and with few Of the pleasures which
attend other trades or professions. pilots work
Is unceasing; there Is no rest for him. In storm
and in tempest, III calm his duty is to be on the
sea and pick up the inbound vessel. No weather
must deter him, and no danger, for 1t is when dan
ger is greatest that his presence is most needed
There is in the life in the eternal battle
with the elements, the unceasing dwelling on the
ocean, and like sailors these men come to love the
sea as sailors do. But with the pilots 1t is not
simply buifeting the waves which is his worst
chance. His responsibility overpowers every thing
else. He has absolute charge day after day Of
millions worth OF property, not one penny's worth
OF which must receive injury while in his hands,
He by his very position guarantees absolute safety
to ships which are in his care, and all, even the
captain retire before his omnipotent word for the
time being. Then, the day after bringing a vessel
into port, out again on the ocean wave, peering
through the mist as through the darkness for
more inward bound vessels, and ready to pick up
the first that comes, to bring her into port aud re-
turn once more. Ana this time alter time, from
years end to years end, without cessation. With
this kind OF life it is no wonder he becomes tho
rough, hardy, weather-beaten veteran he is, and
always ready to meet death in the discharge of
his duty.
THE BOATS.
The pilot poats which we may recognize by the
big figures painted on their mainsaIls, now ana
then IN the bay, coming up or going down, num-
Der in all twenty'etght belonging to New York.
The New Jersey pilots have about quarter that
number, These twenty eight boats are, above all,
stanch, and as fast as they can be made con-
sistent with strength. Like their owners these
boats must be able to stand the most tempestuous
weather without hinching. 1t is mistake, there
fore, to compare them, as to speed, with the
mi. &c Rrcf
desideratum, and which is often obtained
at the expense OF seaworthiness. The pilot
boats only use good, strong serviceabie
sails and their rig is generally shorter
than yachts. The tonnage Of these boats runs
from forty TO sixty tons-no. over. With these
smah craft the men go out into the worst storms,
always confident and always ready for work. No
Set OF men ON salary would do what they do,
which proves the wisdom Of the system Of paying
them for what work they accomplish and nothing
more. In these pilot boats there are generally
two or three men who cub together 10 get one,
rs their means don't permit them to own one
alone, and in any case 1t is undesirable. On the
contrary two or three other pots taken In very
willingly, VINO pay their share OF the maintenance
OF the boat and take their share Of the profits
crulng from its use. Thus three men own boat
and three others are taken on board. The boat
starts with four or five of these leaving one or
TWO to look after vessels going out, ana runs TO
sea sometimes o distance of 400 or 500 miles,
making q cruise often as far as Georges Shoals. As
vessels are spoken one pilot at a time is pCt on
each ship. and when the pilot boat is empty she
comes
BACK TO PORT
In charge of the boatkeeper, who is studying TO
become pilot, tue various owners, OF course,
ing in gradually with the vessels in their charge.
nnn oil ra asSemDipd the majority al
them, on they start once more on their adveDtu-
rous trip and repeat the same process.
Tne pilot boats are expensive property and have
to be maintained in very good condition by their
owners For this purpose each pilot who travels
aboard is charged percentage OF his earnings.
Thus per cent OF the gross earnings OF the boat
is paid for the main tenance OF the Pilot Commits
sloners Office, clerk hire, &c. The law allows
three per cent, but with disnterestedness quite
astonishing in any public department. the Com
Missioners only ask two. Twenty-Five per cent is
deducted from the pay for use OF the boat and
this goes towards the maintenance thereof, such
as repairs, new sails, wear and tear, &c. About
twenty per cent Of the remainder goes ior provl-
siOns and hire OF hands, leaving about hall OF the
sum originally earned 10 be divided. When the
money has got to this net point then
the various plots in the boat share equally
among themselves. The owners have besides
TO pay ten per cent insurance on their boats
which eats up a good portion OF the profits. This
seems very high price for insurance, but presl-
dent of company has assured the writer that on
the average one boat year IL lost IL Is clear
from this that pilot boat properly Is not g0od Ia
Vestment, and the owners are only TOO giau 10
have men with them who take portion Of the
burden on their shoulders: those who DO not own
boats are the more fortunate. There exists at
present feet OF twenty-five New YORK pilot boats
against six New Jersey ones Oi the SANDY HOOK
DilUt Meet that hrnerV pleasure ydGUbs-
the Hope and Widgeon, of tne New YORK iacht
Club, and the Caprice, OF Boston.
THE PAY.
Tne rules OF pay which govern q plots lle are
very strict and exact lie Is simply PAID ior whas
ne does and no more. But on the other hahd no
favoritsm can be shown to these men. The pilot
boat which first speaks vessel has right TO her,
anu tne captain OF the vessei IS obliged 10 take
linn. Ii another pilot should 20 aboard alter the
nfst mas spoken the vessel he must pay TO tue
rlghtlul owner ali the amount or the piotage. The
piot VINO taxes the vessel into port has right TO
take The same vessel Ont-tnat Is To say. The YES.