Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-01-04
COMPULSORY RILoTAeE.
The System in Vogue in Certain South
.ern Ports Pronounced Unnecessary.

TIC SySASht w WYE W VIVIAN S~ANaN
ern Ports Pronounced Unnecessary.
Bangor Commercial.-One OF the
minor causes which have led to the de-
preston of the coastwise carrying
trade has been the unjust compulsory
pilotage laws of the several states.
While congress has legislation over ali
navigable waters, the various states
have the right to make such laws relat-
ing to navigation as such, or to ship
ping, as their legislatures or general
courts deem expedient. The laws re-
iating to pilotage and towage of yes
sells are among these local codes which
have been unjust to vessels engaged in
the merchant marine.
Formerly compulsory pilotage was
enforced at all American ports. Every
ship entering any port was obliged 70
employ pilot, paying rate therefor
according to the tonnage of the vessel
and her draft of water for outgoing ana
incoming whether her captain was &C
quainted with the harbor he was enter
ing. Or not. Gradually this compulsory
rilotage fee was abrogated by the
northern states. Ii was regarded as q
needless tax upon commerce and an
added burden TO navigation. That TX
was taken off may be credited - that
spirit of enterprise, iberality and prog
ress which has always characterized
the states, cities and people OF onr
prosperous north. At present there is
no compulsory pilotage at any port
north of Norfolk, excepting for foreign
vessels, the latter being obliged to nag
pilotage, although many of the vessels
regularly entering certain northern
ports in this country employ regular
pilots by the year or certain pilots for
Icertain vessels.
Along ports of the southern coast
line and in their rivers compulsorp
pilotage is still maintained. In gen
eral 1t is not necessary and an added
tax upon commerce, Its conditions are
IeXacting and unjust. We cannot see
why compulsory pilotage should be de
manded at southern ports any more
than at northern ports If it can b.
abrogated for ports north of given.
line We do not see why it cannot be
taken off for ports south of that line.
1t has been relief to shipping to have
| 1t abolished here, and it would be q
, still further relief to have it abolished
there.
The laws relating to pilotage are
such that the captain of vessel enter
ing southern port must employ a
pilot even though he be as wen ae-
quainted with the port as he is with his
own. and though he knows how to en-,
ter 1t as well as man in Bangor
knows how to cross Main street. More
than this: If spoken by pilot boar
Just before entering harbor the YES.
sci spoken is Obliged to pay plotage
fees whether the captain employs the
pilot or not Moreover, II is a matter
of fact that pilot boats often speaR
1.-TWO or three vessels entering pcrt
when it would be impossible for their
to take but one, and when they do nor
intend to act as pilot for either. It. is
the fees they are after.
That these compulsory pilotage fees
are heavy tax upon commerce may
be illustrated by a single incident. The
lship Alice Lord of this city, OF goo tons,
has repeatedly paid $174 for pilotase
and towage, for a single voyage in en-,
ltering southern port and for a few
miles towage up the river. This single
instance shows how compulsory pilot
age puts a needless tax upon knowing
the port as well as he knows the Pep
obscot river.
| Pilotage laws have grown up from
the early days of shipping and from
time when masters of vessels were IN.
acquainted with harbors and needed
the services of pilot. Free ports ana
experienced ship masters now make.
i such laws in general unnecessary.
| While the laws in some states are such
that shipmaster refusing 10 take "a
pilot violates the insurance on his yes
sci, such laws should not hold in casee
where the master knows the port AZ
well as the pilot and has license from
the pilotage authority of that distriet
following him to take his vessel into
port.
The compulsory pilotage laws OF
this country should be abolished as a
relief to shipping and an encourages
iment to commerce.