Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-15
To the Editor of the vi

To the Editor of the Virginian- Pilot:
l call your attention to an article
in Saturdays Portsmouth Star written
by old Sailor"
He speaks AS ono having knowledge.
and I judge that he is mate or master
OF some large sail vessel or steamer
who uses chart. compass and pilot TO
make this port for he cites some of the
difficulties attending one OF the mos
quito fleet up or down the harbor
However, his article seems TO illustrate
the truth that no man can know the
whole truth about any particular ques-
tion-hc can say what he knows about
the matter from his standpoint, how Ii
affects Kim.
Mr.. Editor. my desire In writing this
reply is to give reasons why the pres
ent piers are, ana the building of the
proposed one would be, Il great obstruc-
ton to the mosquito fleet. ana. hence.
directly detrimental to The trucker and
oyster packer. .
In the first place. he asks the Ques
even one of the great mosquito fleet 20
between the Lambcr,'s Point Light
house and the maiiiandc We'll. MANY
OF us have seen huHdreds of them pass
right cIucfy IN that cOnpSc, They used
to SO III there out Of the main channel
10 ger out OF the tide and away from
TIC swclls OF the steamers We used to
pass there even before the lighthouse
itself Was built. True. there were
shoals and bar there. but, passing
over The ground so often. We needed no
ligirtis@ts-of riers-tt, tell us whore they
shoals and bars to the north and
south of the present piers, but we SfiH
pass in and out at Will
Stand on the dock any day and watch
these boats how. If the tide be against
them. they make out Of the channel for
shallow "a 81
around the piers. Now since the piers
have been built. we are forced into the
main ship channel and not only lose
the chance of avoiding the strong head
tide and of making a long tack. but our
wind is cut off by the towering piers
q serious consideration. Now. every
time one of our small craft 90 up or
down the river his wind is cut off from
certain distance. and. if the wind he
light and the tide against him he will
have either to get tug. scul himself
half to death. or with Tapping sails.
bob up and down in the swells OF the
steamers.
Next. he says. in the same way. n
pier could be built out TO the Crancy
Island light from the island. and still
II would add no obstruction to the ma
vigating these III craft.
Does he not 5W that many OF our
small craft stu pass between Crancv
Island light and the shore? And> does
he not know this pier would also wind
our craft? What's the matter with
"Old Sailor" Has he forgotten. or is
his vision dim?
o. it would be all right for him with
his sky scrapng mast ana tug boat
but it would be different with us He
makes this port perhaps once n month
and can afford to take a tug: we visit
it daily and could not.
Now MIR. Editor. these small craft
are necessity to the trucking and
oyster industry. Granted these piers
are great obstruction to them. DO you
not see that you are criNrIing one Of
the greatest Industries Of this section?
And, by the way. ask "Old Sailor"
what's the relative Importance OF the
trucking industry as compared with
any other industry of this portP ASK
him. what other industry has figured
more in building up the railroad and
steamship lines of this port?
"TRUCKER."