Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-03
Tuesday Merning, Feb. 3, 1880.
THE NEW YORK PILOT SYSTEM.

THE NEW YORK PILOT SYsTEM. great many people in this vicinity and l in other parts of Connecticut are interested ir shipping, and are, therefore, interested in the vigorous attempt which is now being made te
 prevent the pirates Cor pilots as they cal
 themselves) who infest New York harbor con
 tinuing their depredations. The abuse at
 tackled is one of long standing. In 1853 the pilots had law passed by the New York Leg
 islature establishing compulsory pilotage, and
 this was accomplished in spite of the protest
 of all the leading merchants of New York city. Since that time the pilot system of New
 York has been close corporation and mo-
 nopoly. In 1863 the pilots succeeded in get
 ting another law passed increasing the rates
 334 per cent. with the distinct understanding,
 however, that there should be return to the old rates just as soon as the inflated war prices then existing were over. Thus, having fixed it so that pilot must be employed on each vessel, and having got the prices arranged to suit themselves. the small but powerful band of New York pilots addressed themselves con tentedly to the task of preying upon American and foreign commerce.
 They have been very successful in carrying out their well laid plans, and have profted thereby. In 1878 the gross earnings of the port of New York, as given by the Pilot Con- missioners, show an average of $3, 3,6s9 per pilot. In 1878 the average was $4,449. In 1879 the average was $4. TOT. shipmasters who navigate through long voyages are paid from $75 to $10O month, and steamship commanders from $1 1000 to $2, 1000 year.
 The working of the system has been replete with absurdity and wrong. Many companies who run vessels have more confidence in the piloting skill of their own captains than in that of any chance pilot that may offer him self. Nevertheless the pilot demands pay for services which are not wanted or taken and gets it. It is shown that on one of the Havana steamers, in one year, pilot was paid g., ,s72 in pilotage for 10S hours actual service, or $472 more than was paid to the captain of the steamer for his years services and the responsibilities and risks of eighteen voyages. On another steamer of the same line the captain was con sidered as competent as pilot, and although pilot was not employed, under the con- pulsory law the same amount of pilotage was paid as on the other steamers. Other exhib- its show that the pilots receive for their servi- oes at the rate of $54, $39.5 and $46 97 an hour for piloting steamers, and $9.5O an hour for sailing vessels. The Hell Gate pilotage especially is considered fraud and an impo- sition by everybody except the pilots. Tho Government has spent large sums of money in opening Hell Gate so ss to improve navi- gation there, and it has so far succeeded that nearly every vessel can go through without pilot. Sailing vessels are lowed through in most instances, and the services of pilot are not needed. But the thirty five pilots who infest that region row about in their small boats, hail vessels and take their names, and then charge half pilotage because the New York law permits them to do so. On one day, two weeks ago, 273 vessels passed through Hell Gate, and if each vessel required 8 pilot the thirty-fve would not have been sufficient, yet half pilotage wes collected on all of them.
 Those who are working for reform in the pilot laws of New York make three apparently very reasonable demands: First, reduction of 33 1-3 per cent. on the present rates of pi- lotage; second, the total abolition of compul sory pilotage; third, the dispensing altogeth- CT with the Hell Gate pilots. They are hope ful that the present Legislature will grant the desired relief. It certainly ought to, for there is abundant evidence that the New York pilot system is system of extortion.