The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-06
PILOTS NOT NEEDED.
Old Sea Captains Opposed to
the Compulsory Law.
SHIPS CAN SAIL UP THE SOUND.
They Say 1t IL Unnecessary and . Heavy
Tax Upon Commemorative
Of the Shipping.

There is far from unanimity OF opln-
ion among old sea captains regarding the
merits of a compulsory pilotage law for
foreign vessels entering the Sound. Capt.
f. J. Burns. an Old shipmaster and under
writer's agent and surveyor, speaking of
the proposition yesterday, said:
OF course underwriters and ship owners are
always glad 10 have these precautions taken, as
they make navigation less hazardous. l, there
fore, being interested in the insurance business,
would not Gaze TO antagonize such movement.
But 20 be candid, / do not think it would result
in any reduction of insurance rates for vessels
bound for the Sound, and owners would not
consider 1t of any material advantage. We're it
an extra hazardous entrance, like the Columbia
river bar, then the result would be different;
but the entrance to Puget sound is known all
over the world as one of the safest on the globe.
sailed vessels in here for twenty-four years,
and for twenty years there were no tug boats,
and had to beat ill., 1 sailed a sguare-rigged
vessel right into Port Orchard and all over the
Sound. Many other captains have done the
same and never felt at all disturbed.
Of course a strange captain coming to the
Sound for the first time might or might not
desire pilot l believe that ii a system of
piotage is kept up at ali it should be voluntary,
and let the vessels that want a plot Fay for 1t
and those not wanting one pass in free. know
that with fair wind a vessel might be sailed
take tug outside, and thus save large amount
OF towagc
Capt. E. n. Robinson and Capt Jack,
both old-time deep-water salts who have
sailed all around the world, maintain that
such law would simply levy an unneces-
sary tax upon commerce. They claim that
the entrance to the Sound is known the
world over as a good, safe entrance, and
nm =
material advantage to have pilot bring
their vessels in; at least they would not
consider it of sufficient advantage to be
willing to bear the expense. The result
would De that an owner accepting a char
ter for the Sound would add enough to
make up for the pilotage.
Capt. George ". Bullene, local inspector
of steamboat boilers and an old mariner,
said:
The whole thing is a jackpot gotten up in the
interest of a lot of Old pilots around Port
Townsend. They have been agitating it for
years 1t Will simply be burden the COM
mercc of the Sound. Here is an entrance twelve
miles wide at the cape and from six to eight
miles at its narrowest part between there and
Port Townsend; not an obstruction nor shallow
water anywhere in that whole distance: not a
thing to fear but little rough weather at GER
tain seasons OF the year. 1t is known the world
over as one of the safest entrances on any coast
on the face of the globe o. all the vessels
that have come to the Sound I have never
known of one being lost coming in there. Some
were lost trying to get out against adverse
winds. but cannot recall single instance in
which one was lost coming in.
With these facts known how many ship
owners would be willing to have the masters OF
their vessels pay extra for pilotage. This talk
about Saving extra towage is mostly bosh The
tugs would cruise out just as far as they do now
to catch the vessels not wanting pilot and pick
up those that could not beat in on account OF
adverse winds. Therefore the tugs would be at
the same EXPENSE they are now. All these tugs
have competent pilots and vessels are perfectly
safe IN charge of them. Then the only actual
advantage would be the few vessels that might
beat into Port Townsend.
There may come time when the number OF
vessels desiring the services OF pilots will be
sufficient to make it object TO maintain a
system of voluntary pilotsge. but when that
time comes there will be plenty to take hold of
it without going to the state for law To COM
pei vessels to employ them or pay half rates 10
be relieved of their services.
Capt. Hennessy's views coincide with
those expressed by Capt. Buliene.
Capt W. J. Bryant, local inspector of
hulls and agent for q number of under
writers, said:
can say positively that, so far as insurance
is concerned, system of pilotace would not
result in reduction of rates. l think the only
proper system would be to give the master of
the vessel the right to say VIII, Their ne wanted a
pilot or not, and let those taking pilots bear the
expense and the Others pass in free To show
the safety with which these waters can be nav
igated. can say that on my first voyage to the
Sound did not even have a chart OF it, Isailed
for Portland, but, after lying off the Columbia
river q week watching for an opportunity to get
IN, l became disguised aud bore away for the
Sound. l beat into Royal roads without so