Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - Cefn-y-Wrâch . . .

Another iron rivet was also found on the track of one of these lines. It was also pointed out that in the muddy portions of the Wrach the marks of the keel, the garboard-plate, and the bolt heads were all clearly apparent and sharply defined. Mr Plimsoll expressed a positive opinion that it was impossible that such marks could be produced by any chains or anchors, and that they were undoubtedly caused by the bottom of a ship. Mr J. Edwards, collector of Penarth Dock, who joined the party at this point, gave various reasons for a similar opinion, and the matter was shortly afterwards gone into on the arrival of the Mayor of Cardiff (Dr. Taylor) upon the Wrach. The pilots were unanimously of opinion that all the marks were produced by steamers "smelling the ground" over the Wrach, and in regard to the chief track it was confidentially reported that it was only made last week, but for obvious reasons it was asked that the name of the steamer and the pilot should be kept private.

Mr Plimsoll, after a lengthy examination, expressed himself perfectly satisfied that the pilots had completely established a strong prima facie case. He was confident that the channel through the Cefn-y-W arch was quite useless in its present condition, and that the number promontories which had been silted up both at the entrance of the channel and in the river Taff, rendered it utterly impossible for a pilot to keep his course through the centre of the channel without running considerable risk. The pilots were bound to have sufficient water to carry their vessels over any part of the Wrach, for no amount of seamanship could ensure a vessel being kept to the centre of the channel. left - Mr Samuel Plimsoll M.P.

Mr Plimsoll also expressed himself very strongly as to the action of the Pilotage Commissioners in suspending a pilot when there was a conflict of evidence as to the condition of the channel, and when it appeared from all the evidence that the pilots' views were more accurate.