DELAWARE RIVER PILOT HISTORY 1882

DELAWARE RIVER HISTORY

DELAWARE RIVER & BAY PILOTS

AND

PENNSYLVANIA PORT WARDENS PILOT

1882

The Wilmington Delaware Daily Republican of September 7, 1882 reports from

yesterdays Philadelphia Record that the Delaware River & Bay pilots have finally been

divided into two competing associations and the 'pool ' made a year ago between those

pilots holding license under the Delaware law and those license by Port Wardens of the

state of Pennsylvania laws, having been broken.

Captain Mr. Ferguson, president, Board of Ports Wardens, says that the Pilot Committee

of that group has prepared a measure for the benefit of the Pennsylvania pilots which will

insure them an advantage which the president of the Delaware Board of Commissioners

will find difficult to match.

Ferguson said “ we have the Delaware Pilots where we want them and they can't get out of

it, but did not give particulars of the new measure , saying that publicity would could

defeat the end desired. “

Captain Virden , just up from the Breakwater , tells that the breakup of the “pooling “ was due to the influence of the Maritime Exchange on the Pennsylvania pilots. Virden also

said the new arrangement will benefit the Delaware pilots more so than t the Pennsylvania

pilots because no action of the Pennsylvania Board of Port Wardens can interfere with the

business of pilots with Delaware Law license. Captain Virden also said that the orders to

the Pennsylvania pilots not to “take off” a Delaware pilot did not matter since the pilot

boat “Bayard” of the Delaware pilots was much faster than other pilot boats and we

will see who wins.

The law is that a vessel coming 'up' the bay must take the first pilot who 'speaks' her.

On the trip 'down' the bay, the ships master can make 'his' selection.

One way, the Maritme Exchange intends to checkmate Delaware Pilots , is to boycott

them by their influence with outgoing captains , preventing outgoing pilotage .

There are fewer Delaware licensed pilots, Delaware fees are higher, they have fewer pilot

boats and the Pennsylvania Pilots have the aid of the Maritime Exchange.

In consequence, there is already a lively pilotage competition while the pilots await the

expected report of the Port Wardens Pilotage Committee.

Abstract: September 7, 2018, by Harrison H. from Wilmington's Daily Republican ,

September 7, 1882 for www.delmarhistory.blogspot.com & Facebook ..