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

The foregoing response from the Board of Trade was met with disappointment by the pilots but pressure upon them continued as the dredging work progressed in widening and deepening the channel.

• September 1878 - 'The dredgers are still at work on the Cefn-y-Wrach, and have considerably widened and deepened the passage, and will continue to do while the weather permits.' - Western Mail - [036] [361] - 23rd September 1878.

In October a change of heart was announced by the Pilotage Commissioners : -

• October 1878 - The demand of the Cardiff Pilots Granted - Return of the certificates of Three Suspended Pilots - 'At a special meeting of the Cardiff Pilotage Board, which was held on Saturday, at the board-docks, the certificates of the following pilots were returned : - John Howe, David Samuel, John Williams, after being suspended for some months.' - South Wales Daily News - [136] [325] - 7th October 1878.

• October 1878 - Echoes of the Week - [contributed by Peter Playfair.] -'The Cardiff Pilotage Board, after mush pressing and pushing - in which they stood their ground with exemplary pertinacity - have reinstated the offending pilots. All is well, proverbially, that ends well, and as the Cefyn-wrach [Cefn-y-Wrach] shoal is in process of removal, I metaphorically throw up my beaver, at this satisfactory ending to a stiff fight. No doubt the pilots will think like a the hero of Blenheim - "It was a noble victory" - and they are not likely to be satisfied till the pilotage board constitution is modified to their interest.' - The Cardiff Times -  [019] [361] - 12th October 1878.

So, 'all's well that ends well', as the saying goes. One beneficial outcome of the dispute was that the Cefn-y-Wrâch channel was deepened and widened as a direct result. Eventually, the channel was also marked with buoys. Only a few years later, in 1880, shipowners and pilots were represented on the Pilotage Board. Another benefit of Mr. Plimsoll's involvement was that he had recommended to the Cardiff pilots that they form a Cardiff Pilot's Assurance Association. The advantage would be that, as it would be a non-profit making association, it would provide insurance for the pilot boats at a much lower rate than commercially available. Mr. Plimsoll's recommendation was taken up, the association formed and almost all pilots progressively joined the scheme as their current policies expired. Well done Mr. Plimsoll! Well done Cardiff pilots!