The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-27
PUGET SOUND PILOTS.
Annual Report Of the State
Board of Commissioners.
A COMPULSORY LAW FAVORED.
provisions Of . Bill to BE Presented to
Owners, Underwriters and Others.

age on Puget SOUND and the Straits OF Juan
de Fuca will be revived at the coming ses-
| s;on of the legislature. The issue came up
| inst before adjournment two years ago,
i and the mill companies made bitter fight
j against the bill, which failed to become a
i law The present board of pilot commits
eoners will recommend law that is be-
/ lieved will be satisfactory to the mill COM
i panies, although some of the pilots may
| object for the reason that regular coasting
vessels whose masters are in any manner
/ competent to navigate the waters will lie
exempt from its provisions. At present,
| however, il is rare for vessel to take a
| plot down the Straits. Very few, if any,
| pilots are down there to render their serv-
ices. The captains of ocean steamships
Ipying between Puget sound and the
Orient are complaining because they cam
not obtain an American pilot in the vicin-
| ity OF Cape Flattery. Again, the insurance
premium is less where compulsory pilot
laws are in effect than on Puget sound.
The mill companies objected to the pas
sage of the compulsory law for the reason
that all OF the masters of regular coasting
vessels plying these waters are perfectly
Ico,npetent TO navigate the Straits and
Puget sound. There are no dangerous
Ishoa's or treacherous tide currents to en-
danger the safety of a vessel. In the last
leix years only three ocean sailing vessels
have gone ashore this side of Flattery
rocks. and these accidents were due to
ca-eiessness on the part of the captains.
The following report under seal of the
commissioners has been sent 20 Gov. Ferry
by the secretary. James q. Swan:
De
sound pilot commissioners I have the honor to
transmit TO your excellency their annual report
for the year OF 1892. The present pilot law,
entitled ~ law providing for the licensing and
government OF the pilots and regulating piiotage
for the strait OF Juan de Fuca Puget sound and
all American waters pertaining thereto was
passed By the legislature of Washington terri
tory Ia 1855. Under its provisions Gov semp!e
appointed 4. w. DeLion, W. J. Watt and F. S.
Crosby as pilot CONN issioners, who retained
tneir positions as such commissioners till April.
1900, when, the territory of Washington having
become a state. new board was appointed by
l you exceliency, consisting OF Capt Joseph stet-
pn, John p Belts ana Charles II. Jones, and in
| December, 1880, this new board made a report to
| Els excsllency Charles T. Laughton, acting gov
sfnor, Olympia. In that report the commissioners
| fully sc! forth and explained the fact that the
| plot law OF 1883 was wholly imperative, and
/ they prepared a new bill 10 be presented to the
| legislature, but, although the bill was pre-
| sented, 1t was so late in the session that no
| action was takefson il, and as it was i'm possible
| 20 act under the provisions of the present law
nothing has been done since tho report to Gov.
| laughton in 1900 the comm issioners deeming IL
| expedient to wait for the adoption of new laws
| hy the legislature which will convene In Janu.
AIRY, 1898
| on the 9th day of February 1892 Capt Joseph
| II. stetson, chairman of the board OF pilot COM
nssioners, died, and Capt. John II. Belts, an
other of the commissioners, having left the
state, there remained but one member OF tho
board. Commissioner Charles Ii. Jones. Official
Information OF this fact having been sent to the
Executive Office at Olympia. your exceliency ap-
Iponied Capt Eugene Biondi and Capt John
| Barreson 70 Ill the vacancies. These gentle
men. having duly qualified as commissioners,
held their first meeting on December l. 1892 at
| Port Townsend. and organized by electing Com
| missioner Jones as chairman ana appointing
| James q. Swan as their secretary. The new
| hoard, from their own personal knowledge and
| experience, are fully aware of the ineiiiciency
| Of the present law governing pilots, aud they
| therefore carefully examined the bill prepared
BY Capt J. Ii. Stetson, and with the aid OF
which they have prepared a bill to be presented
| to the next legislature which they think will be
/ satisfactory to merchants, mill owners masters
and owners of vessels, and TO underwriters,
which. while protecting the interests of COM
engage in the arduous service of plotting vessels
| 10 aud from sea-
The commissioners are of the opinion that a
| necessity exists for the re-establishment of
plots on Fuca straits and Puget sound, yet the
l great depth of wster renders IL necessary not
/ eay to have knowledge OF the best anchorage
| places. but to understand the currents. espe-
/ eially in foggy weather, so prevalent on the
| waters OF the straits. Such knowledge can only
l b gained by constant observation of resident
plots Foreign underwriters look upon the in
1 anf navigation of 90 miles fro m Cape Fiattery
20 Olympia with considerable apprehension
aud invariably charge higher premium OF in
surance on vessels bound to waters where there
Are no pilots, and, a proof OF this assertion 1t
Is stated that foreign insurance is less To The
Columbia river where there are skilled pilots,
thsn TO Puget sound.
/ OF the present board of Puget sound pilot
Iconmssoners. Capt. Eugene Biondi represents
Tie English and French Loyds and san Fran
Icisco insurance companies. aud Capt. John
hsrneson represents foreign ship owners and
one or mora mills on Puget sound. and are of
TIE opinion that fgst-class skilled pilots sta
conei outside OF Cspe Fiattery will BE- a benefit
10 our increasing commerce and they urge the
| passage aud enactment OF iudicious laws which
wid protect rights Of sll; and the whole beard
| respectfully asks your exceliency in your mes.
ssgc IN the legislature 10 recommend that suit
s"e piut 4hWs % clsacleI Tor the pilots OF Puget
sound.
The board has prepared bill which will
De sent 10 the legislature with the reouest
that II he made law. 1t is recommended
TIA, the old law De adonted with iew ad-
otaonal prov isions. No master of anv
vessel shall be subject 10 fine for not car
'ying pilot. provided that the master has
procured pIlot's license from the COM
hssionerS. Such masters shall not be
subjected 10 q technical examination, but
ageneFal knowledge Of currents, behring's.
etc. OF the Strait aud Puget sound shall
N sufficient. The bill further provides
That II any pilot offers himself 10 any yes
se requiring his services as pilot outside
e. line drawn from the west end OF
eecdda island - Observatory point, east
y Fori >a0 Juan, Il. C., II inward bound
@ttAe p'iHt) shall have the preference,
Fovded the master Of said vessel does not
sSid license from the board as provided
sese'oiore; and further provided that
VERY vessel spoken by a regularly licensed
ptot and refused such vessel shall paw one
aAi Of the ,egal pilot fees"
ihe pilot rates are not 20 exceed Si ner
NOT from any point outside az Wootia
1's'and to Post Townsend. ami - cents usr
isn N addition FOR all vessels over / nl
'eas register. And 20 vessels from any
lHr ID British Columbia 10 any part on
lfaget sound not 10 exceed 81 ,e~ f,o-