West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Thursday 2 April 1903, page 7


ROTTNEST PILOT SERVICE OPINIONS OF STEAMSHIP CAP-TAINS. As previously stated, there is a great deal of comment in shipping circles at Fremantle on the decision of the Harbour Trust to remove the pilot station from Rottnest to the mainland. Needless to say, there are many opinions expressed against it. The following remarks by steamship masters as reported at various times, are of interest on the question, coming as they do, from practical men:-In the "West Australian" in September, 1902, Commander Kershaw, R.N.R., of the R.M.S. Ophir said, in reply to a com-plaint that the building of the Wood-man's Point lighthouse was a waste of money. "If they want to economise, do away with the Rottnest pilot service, as the approach is safe, even for a stran-ger." Commander Angas, of R.M.S. China, on the same subject, said:- "It will do away with the necessity of the pilots to a cer-tain extent." On August 27 Lieutenant Jenks, R.N.R., commander of the R.M.S. Orova, remark-ed:- "The Woodman's Point light is an excellent one for deep-draft vessels of both sail and steam. It will do away altogether with the need of an outside pilot." Commander Volger, of the N.D.L. mail steamer Konigin Luise, on November 4, said:--"The Woodman's Point light makes the approach absolutely free of danger,' Captain Frank Pitts, in a letter to the Press in October last, remarked:- "The merchant service is to be congratulated that, with a clear channel of not less than seven miles in width and lighted up like Regent-street, the commanders of mail steamers can now bring their steam-ers, unaided, to anchorage of the river. Now that at their demand, the entrance is lighted almost like a London street, to generally round on such a body of men as the Rottnest pilot service, is composed of, and suggest they should he done away with, is decidedly rough. " Continuing, he pointed out that since the Coolgardie boom all inter-State boats and large draft cargo steamers from home have been calling at Fremantle regularly, and that before Bathurst or Woodman's Point lights were thought of, and no accidents occurred. In concluding his letter Captain Pitts says: "I may add that after 30 years in all ports of the world I know of no port with anything like the shipping activity of yours, which shows such a clean record for freedom from casu-alties; either by grounding or collision, as does the Port of Fremantle .