, 1882-02-17
VICTORIA PILOTS.

ltt WIZ iSSuC WI s'iC 'ts VIC St"N" t'''h
the bark. G. O. WMtmOre. which had
been brought Into this port by pilot Chris
tensen of Victoria. had been charged the
modest sum Of $l20. This statement Of
ours has been replied to by Mr.. r. q. Ba.
ker. Secretary OF the Victoria Pilot Com
missioners, In letter TO Judge j. g
swan. late Secretary to the late Board Of
Puget Sound Pilot Commissioners. From
Mr.. Bakers letter. we condense the iacts
as follows: The G. O. Whimore was
boarded off Albert Head by Pilot Chris
tensen and sailed into Esqnimalt Harbor.
The charge for this service was $4S. the
regular rates at "a per foot for vessels
of II feet drah. SHE also paid haf dues
cut ut the regular rate Of 81 per foot or
$2l. making a total OF $72, wholly B. g.
pilotage. Subsequently,. the master OF
the vessel decided to allow the pilot to sail
his vessel across to Port Townsend for
e4s IN lieu Of taking a tug. Thus show
ing that the Puget Sound pilots were ouly
our $4s instead Of $l20." We only stated
the gross sum just a. WAS told by the t'ap-
tain. that he had paid Sl20 to Pilot Chris
tensen, aud rs admitted by NJ. Baker
While we do not wish to make any state
inent ealcuattal to disturb the harmony
which has ever existel between ollr pilors
anu those of British Columbia. yet W, 10
not admit that we have made any mis-
statement "a to the actual amount winch
was paid Pilot Christensen. and by Mr..
Bakers showing he was justly entitled 10
that amount. The principal portion Of
which $72 might have bren avoided. II
the @. u. Whirmore had conle dirct to
Port Townsend for orders instead of go-
Ing to Esqnlnalt. There are great
many Captains as well rs ship owner
who seem to be tofalIy ignorant that we
have telegraph line at Port Townsend.
and they run to Victoria tor orders, or TO
telegraph 10 owners, not knowing that u
6lNhp BDIbNh Dt WV tshO NhoNN
broken aud there Is no electric cOmmu I.
cation with Victoria from the mainland
Mr.. Baker states officially that for vessels
like the G. o. Witmore. Of II feet draft.
the British Columbia plots will charge
IS per loot il boarded OF Cape FIattery.
OF "a per loot from Victoria to Esquimslt
to Port 'rowuaend. and that their pilots
cannot charge other rates than liked by
the Pilot Commissioners. II American
vessels bound to Puget Sound will run
into British Columbia waters, they must
expect to pay the regular pilotage fees,
and these added to what they have TO pay
the regular pilots to bring them into our
waters rnakes an additional charge wholly
unnecessary. In Mr.. Bakers courteous
letter. I've says: 1.-The Pilot Commission
ers Of British Columbia regret TO learn Of
the final meeting Of the Puget Sound Pr
lot Commissioners, ~ the very fricndliest
feelings have ever characterized our per-
sOnal and business relations for many
years past. we trust soon to hear Of your
reorganization. The learned pundits
who composed our late Legislature ignCr-
ell she experience Of the merchants Of
British Columbia and OF the whole COM
mercial world, and proved Themselves "a
incompetent to frame laws. as was their
prototype. Sanco Panza when he ruled
the Island Of Barrataria. BY the time
Our Legislatures meet it Is to bs hoped
that some Of the elect viii try to rad up