The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-03-21
THE pILoTAGE QUESTION.

Two pllOtage DlllS are now III couelueialioh
before congress. The first which aims at the
abolition of compulsory pilotage, has been
passed in committee 1t provides that the
master or mate of a sailing vessel may act as
pilot both for his own vessel and for others
belonging to the same owners by passing
satisfactory examination before local govern
ment inspector, provided the vessels are not
engaged in the passenger business. Under
the same regulation steam vessel In charge
of any regularly licensed pilot may tow into
port sailing vessel. In such cases no fee is
to be paid to the regular pilots of the port
The other bill, which was introduced into the
house on Monday, is intended to regulate the
rules of pilotage according to the draught
of the vessels piloted. The Press says:
"The bill arranges the stations for pilots into
six separate classes, regulated by the depth of
water in the port or harbor where the station
is located, and provides that in all harbors
entered by vessels drawing over twenty feet
of water there shall be frst-class station,
pilots on which are to receive $500 per month;
of water, $50 per month; pilots for vessels
drawing not over seventeen feet of water, $60
per month; pilots for vessels drawing not
over fourteen feet of water $50 per month
those plotting vessels drawing not over eleven
feet of water, $40 per month"; and those
plotting vessels not drawing over eight feet of
water not more than 1915 per month.
The bill gives the secretary of the treasury
authority to fix, designate and establish the
rates of charges for the pilotage of vessels
into and out from all the harbors in the
United States and provides that there shall be
only one rate of charge for vessels sailing
under any flag other than that of the United
States, and that the charge for all vessels
registered under the laws of the United States
shall, in all cases, be one-third less than the
rate established for vessels bearing a foreign
flag.
The bill also provides that no master,
owner, agent or consignee of any sailing
vessel registered under the laws of the United
States shall, under any circumstances, be
compelled to take or employ pilot for such
vessel at or in any port or harbor in the United
States or to pay any sum of money for the
privilege of such vessels unless pilot thereof
be voluntarily employed. Every sailing YES
sci, however, drawing over eight feet Of water
sailing under any other flag than that of the
U. s. which shall be inward bound to any
port or harbor in the United States, and not
being towed by a steam vessel in command of
licensed pilot, and pilot shall offer himself
to pilot such vessel and the master of the
vessel shall refuse to employ such pilot, every
such vessel shall be liable for pilotage and
shall be compelled to pay such sum as shall
be designated by the secretary of the treasury,
not to exceed one-balf of the regular rate of
pilotage.
The expenses of maintaining this pilotage
service of the United States is to DE paid out
of fund to be annually appropriated by
Congress for that purpose. The act is not to
apply to navigation of the inland waters of lakes
bordering upon the boundaries of the United
States. The bill, if passed, is to 60 into effect
December 1, 1884"