Chap. 234.—An ACT Concerning Pilotage on the Potomac River. -

Approved July 9, 1870.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
any court of record for the city or county of Alexandria shall,
upon the application of any person interested, appoint five
persons, one of whom shall be a pilot of the Potomac river,
to constitute a board of examiners to examine applicants for
branches as pilots for the said river. The board of examiners,

‘when appointed, shall meet in the city of Alexandria. Every
person applying to the board of examiners to be licensed as a
pilot, shall satisfy them of his citizenship and of his good
character, and that he is qualified by knowledge, service, and
experience to act as a pilot for the Potomacriver. The board
of examiners shall take bond, with good security, from each
puot, in the penalty of five hundred dollars, conditioned for
the faithful performance of his duty; and shall return the same
for safe-keeping to the clerk of the court by which they were
appointed. Hach pilot licensed by the board of examiners
shall pay them a fee of five dollars.

2. The board of examiners shall determine how many pilots
are necessary, and may increase or diminish the number of the
same as they shall deem necessary for the protection of com-
merce: provided, however, that there shall not be a less num-
ber than six branch pilots.

3. The branch pilots, when regularly licensed, shall consti-
tute a board of pilots for the Potomac river, and they shall
keep on the pilot station, to wit: Between Point Lookout and
Ragged Point, one good and suitable pilot boat, to cruise on
said station under rules and regulations to be determined by
the board of examiners.

4. Every pilot shall renew his branch or license every year,
in the month of April or May; and no renewals shall be
granted at any other time, or new licenses applied for, un-
less by sickness or other unavoidable occurrence the appli-
cation therefor within the time designated was prevented.
For each renewal of a license, the pilot shall pay to the board
of examiners a fee of one dollar and fifty cents. And the
board of examiners may renew any license or not, as they
may think proper. At the time of renewing any such license,
the said board of examiners shall require a new bond from
the applicant, if in their judgment the same be necessary.

o. If any person, not a member of the board of pilots,
shall take upon himself to conduct or pilot, on the Potomac
river, directly or indirectly, any sea-going vessel of which he
is not a regular officer or hand, employed for the whole voy-
age, he shall forfeit his boat and equipments, and pay to the
pilot who detects him, the sum of one hundred dollars, and be
imprisoned for three months in the county jail.

. The board of examiners may make such rules and orders
for the government and regulation of pilots licensed by them,
as they may think proper, not contrary to the provisions of
this act; and they may, by their order, deprive any pilot of
his license, or suspend him for a limited period, for breaking
such rules or orders, or omitting anything required by the
same, or for acting 1n any manner contrary thereto, or con-
trary to the provisions of this act. And if any pilot, so sus-
pended or deprived of his license, shall, during the time of his
suspension or deprivation, take upon himself to conduct or
pilot any sea-going vessel upon the Potomac river, he shall be
liable to the punishment contained in the preceding section.

7. The said branch pilots are authorized to demand and col-
lect from all sea-going vessels navigating the Potomac river,
and employing them, pilotage or fees at the following rates, to
wit: on all vessels drawing under fifteen feet, inward bound,
two dollars per foot; outward bound, one dollar and seventy-
five cents per foot. On all vessels drawing over fifteen feet,
inward bound, two dollars and fifty cents per foot; outward
bound, two dollars and twenty-five cents per foot: provided,
however, that any sea-going vessel, sailing under a coasting
license, may obtain from the board of pilots, upon paying the
sum of five dollars therefor, a written permission to navigate
the Potomac river for twelve months thereafter, exempt from
pilotage. All sea-going vessels, not having such written per-
mission, and refusing to employ any one of the said board of
pilots who may offer his services thereto, shall pay to such
pilot half pilotage.

8. Any pilot, being detained on board any sea-going vessel,
shall be entitled to three dollars for each day he may be so de-
tained, to be paid by the master, owner, agent, or consignee of
such vessel. If any such pilot be carried beyond the limits of
his state against his will, he shall be entitled to recover the
sum of three hundred dollars from the master or owner of the
vessel upon which he may have been carried away. All ves-
sels having a branch pilot, and arriving at the pilot station,
shall remain there fifteen hours after arrival, if required, to
give such pilot an opportunity to be taken off, under a penalty
of fifty dollars.

9. Any master of a sea-going vessel navigating the Potomac
river, and bound to or from a port or place within this state,
who shall employ any person other than a branch pilot to con-
duct or pilot his vessel, shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor.

10. Any person offending against this law may be prosecuted
in any city or county in this commonwealth, within which he
may be arrested. .

11. This act shall be in force from and after its passage ;
and all laws heretofore made concerning pilotage on the Poto-
mac river, shall be and they are hereby repealed.