G. O.

345. (For consideration.) An act to provide for the introduction of the Stevenson traction system of towing on the Erie canal. 346. An act to amend part first, title five, chapter five, section seven, of the revised statutes, in relation to the appointment of collectors of canal tolls.

347. An act to authorize the village of Sag Harbor, Suffolk county, to borrow money for purchasing a steam fire apparatus, with the necessary appurtenances therefor, and to secure a supply of water therefor.

348. An act to organize a fire department in the village of Andes, Delaware county.

349. An act to amend chapter sixty-eight of the laws of eighteen

hundred and sixty, entitled " An act to consolidate and amend the several acts relating to the village of Catskill," passed March fourteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty.

350. An act to amend chapter sixty-fifth of the laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-one, entitled "An act to revise and consolidate the laws in relation to the village of Geneva, in the county of Ontario," passed March third, eighteen hundred and seventy-one.

351. An act to amend chapter two hundred and ninety-one of the laws of eighteen hundred and seventy, entitled "An act for the incorporation of villages," passed April twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy, as amended by chapter six hundred and eighty-eight of the laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-one.

No. 77.

IN ASSEMBLY,

March 17, 1877.

COMMUNICATION

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF CONNECTICUT, TRANSMITTING A MEMORIAL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THAT STATE, RELATIVE TO THE PILOTAGE OF VESSELS THROUGH HELL GATE.

To the Legislature:

STATE OF NEW YORK:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
ALBANY, March 16, 1877.

1877.}

I have the honor to transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State of the State of Connecticut, transmitting a memorial of the General Assembly of that State "relating to pilotage of vessels through Hell Gate."

L. ROBINSON.

To His Excellency LUCIUS ROBINSON, Governor of the State of New York:

SIR. In compliance with the instructions of the General Assembly of this State, I have the honor to transmit to you the inclosed memorial relating to pilotage of vessels through Hell Gate, with the request that you communicate the same to the Legislature of your I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

State.

Your obedient servant.

DWIGHT MORRIS,
Secretary of State.

REPORT.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

January Session, 1877.

To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New York, greeting:

The General Assembly of Connecticut would respectfully represent to your honorable body that a worthy and industrious class of the citizens of Connecticut, to wit: masters and owners of small vessels engaged in coastwise trade, have complained that they are unduly burdened and aggrieved by the provision of the statutes of the State of New York requiring the payment of half pilotage fees by the owner, master or consignee of every vessel over one hundred tons burthen, which, being bound through Hell Gate, may be spoken by a pilot, though his services be not accepted or required.

The provision of the statute, the operation of which is complained of, is found in part one, title three, chapter sixteen, section twentysix of the Revised Statutes of New York, in words as follows, to wit: "Any of said Hell Gate pilots who shall first tender his services may demand and receive from the master, owner or consignee of any vessel of the burden of one hundred tons and upward, navigating the said channel of Hell Gate, to whom he shall tender his services as a pilot, and by whom the same shall have been refused, whether outward or inward bound, one-half pilotage for every foot of water such ressel may draw; which half pilotage shall be the one-half of the rates of compensation established by the first section of this act."

We are moved to ask of your honorable body the repeal or modification of the foregoing provision so far as it applies to the coast wise vessels of Connecticut, by reason of these considerations, viz.:

1. The coastwise vessels of this State are for the most part engaged in traffic with the city of New York and its immediate vicinity, necessarily passing through Hell Gate with great frequency, and their masters are so generally familiar with the channel that they rarely need or accept the services of a pilot.

2. The payment of half pilotage fees on every of the frequent trips made by these vessels constitutes in the aggregate a serious burden, which the owners thereof can illy afford to bear, especially in the present depressed condition of commerce.

3. The recent destruction of the chief obstruction at Hell Gate, whereby the danger attending the navigation of the channel has been very materially lessened, decreases the necessity for the services of pilots for the class of vessels referred to.

We therefore indulge the hope that your honorable body may find it consistent with your duty to your constituents, with substantial justice, and with the comity which should prevail among States of a common union, to so far modify the provision of law above recited as to place the coast wise vessels of Connecticut on an equal footing as regards pilotage through Hell Gate with steamboats plying regularly on lines between New York city and Cape Cod.

Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to send a certified copy of the foregoing memorial to his excellency the Governor of the State of New York, and request him to communicate the same to the Legislature of that State.

Approved March 15, 1877.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE,

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy as on file in this office.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Stato, at Hartford, this 15th day of March, A. D., 1877.

[SEAL.]

DWIGHT MORRIS,
Secretary of State.