The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-19
THE HELL carr PILOTs.
The Periious Service Of tho Happy Inbab-
itants of city Island.

The He'll Gate pilots, rs Il class, are little
known as compared with those whose beautiful
craft are the FIRST that greet the travellers eye
he approaches Sandy Hook. Their work H.,
however equally dangerous, and their life Is full
OF romantic interest. Their principal rendezvous
is at city Island, near the entrance to the Sound,
and vessels requiring tneir services are boarded
all tho way from Sands Point down to He'll
Gate. Beyond Sands Point Ia considered of
shore" and for that service there are two large
schooners, the Seadrift and the Lily the rest OF
the service being done in small boats, each pilot
owning his own boat. These boats are about
sixteen feet long, four and half wide, and two
deep. They are cnkcr-bullt, ntted with lug
sails, and can stand very heavy weather. Pilot
age commences at Sands Point, and ends at tho
Battery but vessels are often taken OF shore,
that IL. to Montauk Point. and for this service
additional rates are charged.
There are anout forty Hell Gate pilots In the
service. Their training offers considerably
from that Of their SANDY Hook brethren. They
are supposed 10 know every incu Of the ottom
from Sands Point to the battery, and to be con.
versant with Sound navigation. They have no.
thing to do with vessel after she reaches tho
Battery, or with any vessel gong out 10y way Of
deck boats II required. At the end of three
years pilot receives what IL called an eight
foot branch which means a license to pilot boats
Of eight feet and under. After i've years ser
vice he receives "A tuii branch. or license to uOt
vessels OF any size Each ttlOt receives what he
makes. ana then there Is "A general fund for re-.
pairing boats. etc
The Office Of tho Hell Gate pilots is At = Coen-
ties slip. All foreign vessels arc subject to fun
pilutase. and all American vessels OF 100 tons
and over new measurement to MALI plotigc.
Americans under register are subject TO fun pi-
lutlge but only out OF nifty vessels is OF TINS
class. only few uf the regular traders between
nor III the sound are sppken-yachts never.
Schooners are the princtp i craft plotted nova
days. The Iilpttge Tees are for sch 1oners 81 %
a foot drlft 81 water, for square riggsr. sl..5,
ship.
III common with the sandy Hook pilots. those
OF Hell Gate complain Of dull tines and lack II
business. bytu lay II 10 the eXOrbitant port
charges and expenses, aud say that " they are
kent up New \ DIX city viii soon 20 ruined ~ a
pptt. They aver tuat while baltimore, fiiadei-
pbia, and H. ston are doing everything ia their
mower To invite ships to their wharves, New
York. on the contrary. seems to ne irving
the piIDts say. by encouraging the extortions
prlctised hv port officers, ha rbor masters and
others. In Baltimore they return three cents a
hushci on grim rs an inducement to ships to
come there. and rs a consequence the shining
~ that port Is RAPIDLY increasing. New York
city ought L. be the cheapest of all American
ports, the expenses Il tor. mage bnG much less.
The Hell Gate plOts complain that the tug
hots take all their business, and they ada that
half the loss incGrred In Hell Gate arises from
10 efforts u tugs 10 take through several YES
sells when onli one can be properly man ged.
y fuw years ago the law required AL vessels to
tnee pilots but the w ownors had too much
capital. and pr occurred thc rc."u 81 the law I'M
der the plea that towing j. not ulloiing.
The Ecu Cato pilots are hapu, crew. Most
~ them dwell IA neat httv cottages ON CIV
Island. Their work at times Is Yer, dangerous
q d steye Horton took large bark cieAr Of the
q III. between Bioce l-land and Nonta .h Point.
% day Or two ago. BE ma to come back M
four;een foot boat in yale. Alex. s Dpntcr.
~ irving To bonld a steamer recently ON diTk
hu' .f.et 60 tin- around Tor tao disstntlc
bottom IT his boat. he wa. ~ k-I uu. ihe
tilY'S often have to stay OFT 40 ni-,ht % tn,ir
d. lie craft a"ait.nrt .eaiiro tri. o' N,7-,,s, spd
600 sc OF ri'fN anu ga siirs' c''N turd, iis