Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-15
THE PYLOTAGE BILL.
An Act Establishing New PiiotaSe
Laws on the Georgia Coast.

9
lished below, is the result Of comprO-
mise agreed upon by the shipOwners and
a majority OF the pilots at a conference
here just before the converting of the Gen.
eral Assembly.
The act empowers the Commissioners
OF PIlotage at Savannah, DarieH, Bruins
WICK and ST. Mary's to receive such per-
sons (cItizens Of the UrIted States Of
good character as they snail think most
lit to act as pilots for the purpose Of con-
Quoting vessels inward to and outward
from the several ports and rivers, for
which they snail be licensed during their
good behavior. Pilots already licensed
for any Of said ports or rivers shall con
tlnue 20 act until removed for cause. NO
additions shall be maue to the present
number of licensed pilots until the num-
Der shall not exceed 20 for the port Of Sa
Yannah. 10 for the ports Of DOOOy and Da-
rien, 10 for the port Of Brunswick, ! for
the Great Satilla river and for the
port OF st. Mary's, and thereafter, when
vacancies occur in the number of pilots
III any one Of the before named ports or
rivers the Commissioners OF that port
may, in their discretion, grant licenses
as pilots IA hereinbefore provided, until
the number of pilots reaches the number
allowed by this act for tnat port or river.
LICENSING APPRENTICES.
sioners Of any one Of the before named
ports from, in their discretion, granting
llcepses to such apprentices as were ap-
prenIices AT the date OF the passage ol
this act, when any one of such appren-
uces has fulfilled the requirements of
the laws of the State OF Georgia and the
rules and regulations established by the
Commissioners of the said port. No per-
son, other than duly licensed pilot,
ali he q ~ n ~
ty or reward tor conducting or plotting
any vessel inward tO,or outward from, amy
Of the ports, rivers or haTbOrs tor which a
pilot shall be licensed. If any person,
having no authority or license 10 act as
pilOt, Or who. having had any authority,
has had 1t suspended or revoked by the
Commissioners, snail pilot any vessel in
wards to, or outwaIds from, any OF
the ports, rivers or harbors OF this State;
or If any person Interferes with or dis
turbs licensed pilot in the way of his
duty, such person may, on conviction, be
fined and imprisoned at the discretion Of
any court having Jurisdiction; but any
person may assist a vessel in distress
without any pilot on board, if such
person shall deliver up the vessel
TO the first pilot VINO comes on board and
offers to conduct It.
SUSPENSION OF PILOTS.
Section OF the act provides that the
Commissioners shall suspend any pilot,
or deprive him of his license, for want OF
skilltulness or FOR negligently or carelessy
losing or injuring any vessel IN his charge,
or when he is IaboTing under mental de-
raugement, or is so add cted to habits of
intOXicatiOn as to unit him, in their judg-
ment, to be entrusted with the charge of
a vessel; but IN every such case an ap-
peal may be made, as is provided for by
law.
Section provides that the Commission
ers shall have power, and 1t Is their duty,
to prescribe rules and regulations for the
governmeutO Of pilots, aud 10 prescribe the
lees tor their services; and they may also
impose such penalties, not Inconsistent
with this law, Tor neglect OF duty, or for a
violation OF the orders, or OF the rules and
regulations of the Commissioners, as thew
may think proper.
FIXING THE FEES.
They shall, Immediately after the pass
age OF this act (and from time TO time
thereafter. whenever necessary revise
and grade the existing pIlOtage fees both
inward and outward on vessels drawing
II feet, or less, when loaded, so that said
tees shall not exceed the average of the
lees charged at the ports Of Norfolk Will
mingtCn, Charleston, Port Royal or Beau
fort, FernandIna, Pensacola, Apalachi-
cola, Mobile and New Orleans. They
shall exempt vessels from the payment
| Of pilotage fees, either inward or
outward, unless services are
rendered outside the bar, and
exempt from the payment OF outward pi-
lotage fees, coasCwise vessels, changing
ports by inside routes, either in changing
ports or going 10 sea, unless pilot Is &C
tually employed.
ANNUAL LICENSE FEES
They shall allow vessels running coast
wise, under United States license, to pay
| later paying the inward pIlOtage for that
trip an annual license fee of % cents per
registered ton, which shall belong to the
/ pilot entitled to the inward pilotaVe
| Zee, and the payment of SAID
! license fee shall exempt said
! vessel for twelve months thereafter from
! compulsory employment OF "A pilot either
| inward or outward, or pay ment therefor,
| unless services of Il pilot are accepted.
! They shall allow oue-half the regular
/ pIlOtage fees to be collected from all ves-
| sells Except those exempt by laws of the
| United States, or licensed as provided for
! in this act) calling at the bar OF any OF
/ the before named ports or rivers in
! ballast, seeking or for orders, II they do
not load but leave in ballast, and allow
! half the regular pllotage fees, both in
| ward and outward, on all vessels return
ing to the port at which they are loaded
! before completing the voyage, from stress
! Of weather or from being damaged or dis
abled; but vessels subject 10 go into
quarantine shall pay fun pilotage fees
! inward and outward.
REFUSAL OF PILOTS.
Section 4 provides that any person,
master or commander Of a ship or vessel,
Except vessels exempt from United
states laws aud vessels while licensed
under the provisions of this act, and ves-
sells Of less than 100 tons burden bearing
toward any OF the rivers, ports or harbOrs
Of this State, and who refuses to receive a
pilot on board, shall be liable, on his ar
rival IN such port, river or harbnr, to pay
the first pilot who may have offered his
services outside the bar, and exhibited
his license as pilot, il demanded by the
master, the full rates OF pilotage inward
and outward established by law for such
vessel.
INWARD AND OUTWARD FEES.
The hlth section provides that the pilot
VINO brings vessel into port shall have
the exclusive right TO take her out, unless
I tue master Of such vessel shall prove to
! the satisfaction OF the Commissioners that
/ such pilot misbehaved himself while IN
/ charge OF the vessel, or was in the mean
! time deprived OF bis license, or that such
/ pilot had obtained the inward pllotage
against the right Of some other pilot first