The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-18
rxAlxrxe a rrLor
The Pevsis he Msss Face asa che sam he
Mast Acquire sersre he 0ess . boat.


Must Acquire Bersre he Gees . Beat.
Occasionally boat keeper is registered at
the ONCE Of the Pilot Commissioner. Il Is the
first official recognition given by them to one
Of the crew Of q pilot boat who has been sharing
the dangers Of the pilots for two or three or
more years. BY sharing these dangers and
successfully fulfilling tho grave and RESPONSE
bic duties Of his new position "a boat keeper
Tor three years longer. the man fits himself to
report to the Pilot commissioners for cxamina-
ton ms pilot. Needless to say. no passes. and
then has 70 wait for boat This period OF
waiting was at one time long one, but Is not
80 now, there being two or three vacancies at
present. Once attached TO . boat. the new
pilots career fairly begins. Specially selected
from crew. all Of whom must possess skill
nerve. daring. and general information Of q
high degree. he adds 10 these qualities his OK
perience rs a boat keeper. and 30 Is no now 70
In his new position.
A new boat keeper was registered recently.
He's like q young boar with all his troubles
before him" said veteran rs he buttoned up
his heavy Esa Jacket and started for his boat
Why. 10 tho FIRST place he is now really
CAPTAIN OF the pilot boat; the pilots, though his
Mi ,hs eerss a az pa ne
vessel. and. in addition. must give orders to
and enforce discipline among crew OF WHICH
yesterday he was an ordinary member He
must for three years keep ON the good side OF
the pilots or away 20 his chances. Many a
raking,a boatkeeper has got for not bringing
the pilot boat into port in what the pilots
considered good time. You see the pilots
Leave shS boat one after another fat as they
last ono goes the boat Keepers business is to
bring the boat back to port ~ quickly as posi-
steamers: and are waiting Tor him. Now. the he
last pilot may have left the boat $50 or 900
the bos!! keeper. Then his ears are sssSisd
with, What kept you SO longY Why didn't
Do bsns s why 40 sa DID
aud SO on. an q which is calculated to exas-
perate the boat keeper. especiallsif he is not
how they get their iawng tacks aboard.
IN bow No., 40 you sr get yoGr crews p
eyerywheres. Some arc sons and relatives OF
pilots. ana others are born pilots A man has
to come aboard knowing how to handle him
stuff in him to last. II not. he is at once
bounced. After being u boatkeePer three years
!ached to pilot boat, He now gets his regu-
Tar SHARE a OF the earnings OF the boat less cor,
percentage deducted from the gross earnings
by tho owners Of the boat as their share OF the
profits IN addition to their regular share as
70 own share in a pilot boat. He luen inds
that many a dividend on the boat is passed. rs
knock the price OF the boat down. but to buy
pew new sails: sp,rs. and other equipments needed
from time To time
Well there's three or four pretty we'll fixed
but rs u rule it's II tarpaulin muster for the
widow when a pilot dies Old Callahan is top
OF the heap in that respect but during his forty
odd years experience he hasn't saved much Of
i out OF regular pilotage. He was pilot on the
Arago during tho war. at $1,000 u year and
also piloted Ben Butler down TO blow up Fort
Fisher. lie and the Russian Admiral Bouta-
kof saved an English ship once. at the risk of
losing their own. The gallant deed was
greatly appiauded. Boutakoff was Captain
then. They are great friends, and the Admiral
nj hp ~
Pilot Callahan. How long do pilots serve (?
Well. they die in harness as rule. and the hat
generally goes round, as said. Our earnings
are much exaggerated. Young men are now
coming into the profession. and among them
arc Swedes and Norwegians. who work very
to abolish compulsory piotage Well, the size
OF that Is that II II is done pilot boats. for ono
thing won't take the chances they do now in
will hang around Sandy Hook as they did be-
fore the present system was in use"