To the Editor of the "Norrn-Carsa Dairy News."
Sir,—Your correspondent whose article appears in your issue of the 24th instant, and who signs himself '*Certificated Mariner," deserves great credit for making public the deplorable conditions that exist in respect to safe navigation on the Lower Yangtze.
Several articles have lately appeared in local journals on this subject and surely the authorities (whoever they may be) will no longer set aside the seriousness of the situation.
The following extract is taken from the leading article in the last issue of "Shipping and Engineering" apropos the subject of this letter, "The apathy of the authorities responsible for safe navigation of the Yangtze is appalling, in no other country but China could such a chaotic state of affairs exist as that at present prevailing on this river through the ignorance and incompetence of Chinese pilots."
Your correspondent states that there are not ten pilots on the whole of the Lower Yangtze who know the river, meaning I presume Chinese pilots, "Certificated Mariner" cannot be ignorant of the fact that there are 20 qualified European and American pilots who have proved themselves competent and reliable.
To have a knowledge of the channels of the river is but one of the qualifications required of a pilot and I venture to say that there is not one Chinese pilot on the river who could pass a thorough examination in the "Rule of the Road."
Reference to the report of the "Kiangtung" and "Yangpeh" collision case. The pilot of the former vessel stated that he was 32 years of age and until two years" previously had been employed as an insurance agent.
Further questions as to his knowledge of seamanship and his experience as a navigator revealed that he had worked in a ship's compradore's office for a short time.
When asked if he considered himself qualified to be in charge of a ship, his reply was. "Yes."
In many cases the ship-owners or agents do not caro what the qualifications of their pilots are as long as they can get cheap rates, Underwriters appear to be quite willing to insure vessels trading to ports on the Yangtze without much investigation as to the class of pilot employed.
Many shipmasters are indifferent to their obligations regarding the safety of the lives and property under their charge and they accept without protest the services of any native pilot detailed by owners or agents to their vessels.
The need of action by shipmasters in this direction certainly justifies the criticism passed upon them by your correspondent.
The well known local Guilds are carefully watching the interests of their respective members whose lives at any time may be at stake. What has either of these bodies done in order to eliminate this long-standing scandal?' Much has been done during the past nine years to bring about the official control of pilots on the Lower Yangtze, but in spite of these many years of patient effort the result is obvious.
What does it matter? W"importe.
I am, ete.,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.