The Struggle for Safe Passage on the Sound
A local captain makes the case for mandatory pilotage to prevent costly shipwrecks in the foggy straits.
Captain E. Biondi, of Port Townsend, has sent a letter replying to arguments made against a compulsory pilotage law for the Sound. He notes that the entrance to the straits is often dangerous due to thick fog and rapid currents. As a matter of record, he mentions several ships lost while making the passage, including the Austria, Duchess of Argyll, and the Chilean bark Savoua. While masters feel safe in clear weather, Biondi argues that a reliable, weatherly boat to cruise outside the cape is necessary for the growing fleet. He compares this to the federal requirement for passenger steamers, asking why cargo ships should be treated differently given the high stakes and frequent casualties.
“To a stranger making the land about the cape, especially during the foggy season, the aid of a pilot would be very acceptable.”
The debate over maritime safety and the necessity of local pilotage remains a pillar of Seattle's port operations, echoing the same tension between shipping costs and environmental/safety risks that defined the 1890s maritime economy.
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