The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-07-30

| Dt VpCucuS lcAU ANU 0uC"OAOu w -
woman and held in strict confidence.
ladder. TO Chamber up the pilot works
himself from eide to side in peculiar
crab-like motion until he has reached the
deck. In the toughest weather he
passes a rope leader under his arms for
safety's sake.
Aboard the pilot has charge of the
ship; but he is not in command. The
captain has still general oversight
of his actions and is responsible for
his acts in so far as he can be expected
to foresee their consequences. If he
! thinks an error is being made, it is his
duty to rectify it, and if he does not do
so any accident that might happen is
placed to the captains account.
All foreign vessels inward bound are
required to employ pilot His duty it
I is to take them up through the safe har-
/ Dor channels to quarantine, where they
are boarded by medical officer. They
| then resume their way. A little later
the ship is boarded by customs officer,
who examines the manifest, and if every
thing is as it should be, allows her to
proceed to her dock.
The 80 men who are associates in the
service have their time divided between
/ five weeks of sea and three of shore
duty. Those on sea duty are apportion-
ed to the boats on the outer stations.
The schooner which lies inside Boston
light is used as ''take-off' and sends
her yawl to meet outgoing ships for the
purpose of transferring. AS the services
of pilot are not needed below Boston
light, signals are set by outgoing vessels
at a point near Bug light to notify the
"take-off'' to stand ready to remove
him. From the schooner ne is passed
along until he reaches his assigned sta
I ton. Men who are on duty at the outer
stations return as soon as possible after
/ they have taken ship to its destination.
The blue jack is kept flying from the
masthead as long as there is pilot
aboard, but when there is none left, it is
hauled down and the boat is said to be
Unnamed out" She is then no differ
ent from the ordinary ships of her class
and is in charge of boatkeeper until a
pilot returns.
According to law, vessels on pilotage
duty at night are required not to show
the lights which are used by other YES
sells. They carry white light at the
masthead which can be seen all around
the horizon. They are also required TO
display flares at intervals which never
exceed Is minutes.
AS they near the vessel which is to be
boarded, they have their side lights ready
for use and must flash and show them at
short intervals to indicate in what direc-
ton they are heading. They are not al
lowed, however, to show the green light
on the port nor the red light on the star
board side.
( When not at work on their station or
when manned out, the pilot boats carry
lights similar to those displayed by other
vessels at their tonnage.
| In Boston there is a harmonious ar
rangement among the pilots. They are
all members of a single association and
the profits of the fleet are divided on
straight partnership basis. Each man IS
given an equal share of the money earn
ed over and above all expenses for
wages, provisions and general upkeep.
Charges for pilotage are based on the
draft of the ship which is piloted. and
the amount is assessed at a stated rate
for each foot Of draft.
MUST ACCOUNT FOR WORK.
| That the men engaged in guiding YES
rienced and capable, the State has ap-
! -
general oversight of their acts. To them
once every three months each pilot in
Boston harbor must render al accurate
account of all vessels which have been in
his charge and of all the money received
by him in the course of his work. -Four
per cent. of the money received is paid
in to the commissioners.
| Pilot commissioners are recommended
for office by the trustees of the Boston
Marine Society and their compensation
is fixed by the trustees, who also make
the allowance for office rent, clerk hire
and incidental expenses. These amounts
are deducted from the money received by
the commissioners and any surplus which
is leftis paid to the Marine Society.
The commissioners may suspend pilots or
revoke their commissions if they are
given satisfactory evidence of miscon-
duct, carelessness or neglect of duty. A
bond of $1,000 is required before the pilot
can assume his duties and is considered a
pledge for faithful performance, and a
surety against damages which might
grow out of his negligence, unskilfuiness
or unfaithfulness.
There are numerous regulations for the
enforcement of collection of pilotage
charges and the adjustment Of damages.
If vessel which is liable to pilotage re-
fuses the services of pilot, he is sup
posed to notify the officers that she will
be held to pay the regular fees whether
she accepts his services or not.
In addition to the regular charges the
men are allowed an excess charge under
certain well-defined limits. If the YES
sci is anchored for IL hours or more I'M
der the regulation relative to quarantine
and alien passengers he 10 entitled to Is
per cent. in addition to hislregular fees,
and if through no fault of his own is car