The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-12-26
POINTS ON PII1UTs.
How Vessels Big and Little Are
Brought Into Port.
Rates. Rules and Regulations Of the Pilots
!. Promotion Dependent Upon Merit
Niggardly Shippers Who skip the
Service and Charges.


Promotion Dependent Upon Merit
+. Niggardly Shippers Who skip the
Service and Charges.
Every pilot begins as common sea-
man on pilot boat, and graduates from
each successive state upward until he
can pass the examination prescribed,
when he is admitted into the full fell
lowship of the class. The United States
pilotage system is governed by a code
ofrules enacted by Congress and admin
-istered by q Board of Commissioners Of
Pilots, five in number, presided over by
Captain Snow. This organization first
into formal existence in 1853, when
the Sandy Hook Pilotage law was
passed. Previous to that time the legal
responsibilities of the pilots were very
few and many and thrilling are the
histories of ships wrecked on coral
reefs, where their crews sustained life
on the flesh of the alligator; of ships
waterfogged, Of men drifting for days
in open boats, freezing, starving and
going mad with thirst. That many OF
fective pilot force then in existence few
viii attempt to deny.
Since their organization, however, our
naval history has been far from gloomy
one. and to-day, thanks to the numerous
amendments which have been since
added to their laws, this city possesses
the best and most effective pilot force
in the world. Through rain or shine,
fair or foul weather, these pilots are
ever on the alert, some cruising close to
the shore in the vicinity of our harbor,
while others go as far East as Halifax,
N. s., and south to Cape Henry. These
two routes are called the Eastern and
Southern cruises, respectively.
When vessel is hailed by piIotboat
the law requires that pilot shall be
taken on board. Some sailing masters
prefer plotting their vessels themselves,
although by doing this they risk their
claims of insurance in case of disaster.
Others again-such as the captains of
small vessels and some skippers-en-
deayor to elude the vigilance of the
pilots and thereby save pilotage fees.
Then the pilot in his little craft APP
proaches vessels side rope is thrown
TO him, which he quickly grasps and
chambers up the ships side. His boat
then pulls off.
There are at present one hundred and
thirty-two pilots attached to the New
York and Sandy Hook squad and
sixty to the New Jersey squad.
Their average gain is seldom less
than $500 a year, from which
isrdeducted two per cent. for the Board
of Commissioners. The pilotboats are
built of the best material, sheathed and
fastened with copper and are undoubt-
cdly the, best boats Of their kind manu-
faetured. There are twenty Of these
boats in the New York pilot service,
averaging about forty tons each. Every
sailor on a pilotboat is eligible to the
office of pilot in due time, If he can pass
an examination and demonstrate a
proper knowledge ofthe distractions of
the harbor, the machinery and construc-
tion of vessels, their tonnage and other
branches bearing upon navigation A
man very rarely obtains such a position
without being sole owner of a boat
OF his own, or at least
part owner in one. When q pilot
boards a vessel either outward or home
ward bound the captain of the vessel
delivers to him slip Of paper contain
ing the correct draught of the vessel,
Its zdlmensions, tonnage and other in
formation respecting its earge.-H the
captain misstates the draught, or tries
to-wf4ffufiy deceive the pilot in regard
ftar m ia TO- firn
OF SO for the first offense, and he is
very lucky If his license is not revoked
Tor so offending again. With the trans
atlantic steamships and their captains
eur pilots have very little trouble, but
vessels from the Baltic and the Mediter-
ranean occasion them endless annoy
apce, and their captains are often sub
lected to fines and severe penalties.
There are two SCHEDULES OF rates for
..ptl4tage, governed by the seasons. In
summer for vessels inward bound, and
drawing less than fourteen feet of water,
!. the rate is S2.7S per foot. For vessels
= sawing fourteen feet and less than
eighteen s3.sS per foot is charged; for
elshtecnfeet and less than twenty-one,
se'lS' and for twenty feet and upward,
- per foot
II boarded outside Sandy Hook one
fourth. OF the above rates are added,
ana II the vessel be detained for any
eqglh.of time for any reason, such as
adverse Winds or harbor distractions, So
are charged for each day
Ahis pilotage money is paid by the
master, owner or consignee of the yes
SCI and 1t is common trick among the
captains of little cruisers and vessels
plying between here and the West In
- oies to steam up TO port in a gale of
WIND with sails set all the way from
narnegat' to escape the vigilance OF
Inc Pilots and save themselves the. fees.
was probably to provide against
eneh .triekery that law was established
Miii 81, made the owner or captain Of
ssss.Y amenablc to the pilotage laws
E s''u ices after the shipIs hailed, whether
w - Pliot Is rejected or not
:, i,'i' mere fact Of keeping shaspl eolS-
o'.s- !lr ZACH nafsfl. rendn,a tho livca az