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

"In the case of David Samuel, pilot No. 18, the following complaint made by dockmaster of the Bute Docks was heard at the meeting of the Pilotage Board, held on the 2nd April instant, at which nine members of the Pilotage Board were present : -

"For refusing to take out ship Prince Amadeo, on Sunday, the 24th February last, at a.m. tide, drawing 22 feet 9 inches of water, and having at the East Dock cill 24 feet 5 inches of high water. Three-quarters of an hour previous to high water, there was 24 feet at the East Dock cill. Depth at Roath Dock cill, 28 feet.

"The Pilotage Board duly considered the circumstances of the case (it being broad daylight, and the weather very calm), and resolved to suspend the licence of David Samuel for three months, and then to be reduced to a 2nd class channel pilot. The same observations as to the depth of water through the Cefn-y-Wrach apply to this case as to Howe's. The Pilotage Board considered both the above cases on the existing state of the above channel, and were satisfied there was no obstruction in the channel warranting the refusal of the above pilots to take out vessels. With regard to the constitution of the Pilotage Board, the same is constituted under the Bristol Channel Pilotage Act, 1861, and consists of 10 members, chosen as follows : -

"The Mayor of Cardiff for the time being, and three members nominated by the council of the borough ;
"Three members nominated by the trustees of the Marquess of Bute ;
"Two members nominated by the Penarth Railway and Dock Company, now represented by the Taff Vale Railway Company ;
One member nominated by the company of proprietors of the Glamorganshire Canal ;

and such the constitution of the board must remain until other statutory powers are obtained."

BOARD OF TRADE TO CARDIFF PILOTAGE BOARD. - On May 1 the Board of Trade acknowledged the above communication in the following terms : - "I am directed by the Board of trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo, stating the circumstances under which John Howe, pilot No. 40, and David Samuel, pilot No. 18, were recently suspended by the Cardiff Pilotage Board, from which it would appear that the ground upon which these pilots were suspended was that they respectively refused to take out vessels when called upon to do so, although at the time when they were so called upon there was, in the opinion of the Pilotage Board, sufficient water in the Cefn-y-Wrach channel to enable the vessels to pass through.