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Pilots
Taken from A History of Moville and its Neighbourhood by Rt. Rev.
Bishop Henry Montgomery 1847 - 1932
In past days there must always have been sailors and fishermen
in Shrove always ready to pilot vessels up the lough and as part
of their profession. They all probably were farmers as well, and,
no doubt, competition was fierce, and there were quarrels from time
to time, and boats might be cruising outside the Heads to get the
first chance of a job. Piloting at length came to be regulated,
and I should image it would be about the year 1848, when the buoys
were properly taken in hand. Men were licensed, and no unlicensed
person could act. There were also super-numeracy pilots in order
to meet a sudden rush of vessels. In days before steam sea, traffic
must often have been delayed, then the lough became crowded with
sail. One hears of dozen of vessels of all rigs on such occasions
awaiting their chance and anchored off Moville and Carrownaff. In
old days the present Channel was not used, but the one further out
in the lough; it is still there, but it is not buoyed. Our Channel,
though called the New Channel, has been used for a long while, and
so well marked that to-day probably any capable sailor could take
a vessel up to Derry.
The licenced plots are, of course, regularly paid, and all competition
between them has disappeared. I think they also all have farms.
At the Pilot Station, near the lighthouse, a boat's crew of three
men are always in residence, and it is their one occupation. With
them there is always a pilot in readiness, and he is generally on
watch. The pilots arrange their watches, which are for two hours
at a time, and, of course, they relieve each other regularly. If
a pilot is called to ship another immediately takes his place. In
old days,when a pilot had brought his ship to the wharf, he threw
his coat over his shoulder and walked back to Shrove. I know one
house at Pound Town where the men were always welcome, whether by
day or night. The owners tell me it was quite a common sight when
they came down in the morning to find one or more of these men fast
asleep on the kitchen floor. The doors were always left unlocked
for the purpose.
The regular passenger coasting steamers have captains who themselves
hold pilots' certificates, but not so with the coal boats. They
take pilots, for their business takes them to any port. One boat
which we may see here today may not enter the lough again for months.
In old days, before licences, men bargained with the captains, but
all that has ceased; pilots receive a salary, and ships pay according
to their tonnage into a "Pilot Fund" of the Derry Harbour
Commissions. This fund provides the pilots' salaries, and also provides
for a small pension on their retirement. The custom with the big
liners is that a pilot from Shrove is sent for to Glasgow in time
to board the outgoing steamer. He brings the ship into the lough
and the ship lands him at the Pilot Station when she goes out, or,
if it is very rough at Greencastle, or even at Moville. At times
a liner picks up a pilot at the Station, then the man is brought
alongside by the pilot boatmen. I believe the liners have never
been compelled to take a pilot on to America; an expense to the
company, of course, if such a thing has to be done.
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