6.4 Western Pilots: Extracts for Limerick Harbour Commissioners’ Accounts 1910-1928 ^[122]

Extract from 1910 Accounts (No of Ships??             172207 NRT)
Expenditure:
Cain's Island Pilot Station:
Extensive repairs to stages and provision of boats etc.,                  £98-16-3.
Purchase of Kilcredane Fort:   £121-8-9.
(Pilotage Returns for 1901 shows that Kilcredane Fort was rented at 5s-3d per month)

Extract from 1911 Accounts (No of Ships??               165326 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station:           £93-3-4.
Kilcredane Fort Station:               £50-0-0.
This station and land lately acquired from the War Office has been fitted out for the use of the Western Pilots, the existing draw bridge affording access to the station across the moat of the old fort is in a defective condition and should be renewed.

Extract from 1912 Accounts (No of Ships??                       ?? NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station                   £44-13-9.
The total expenditure included the sum of £19 for repairing boats. Owing to the neglect shown in the care of some it has been deemed by the Board that they will incur no expenditure for the future in supplying or repairing boats.
Repairs to Western Pilot cutter:   £94-5-9.
The Pilot cutter for this station was very fully repaired and fitted out at a cost for labour and materials of £90-19-2. And a similar order as in the last case was made in regard to future maintenance. The draw bridge referred last year as defective should be renewed by the tenant in occupation of the Lands.

Extract from 1913 Accounts (No of Ships 456              189828 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station                  £22-1-9.
Repairs to landing stage and house.

Extract from 1914 Accounts (Floating dock closed 20/8/1914 to 27/2/1915)
Cain's Island Pilot Station                  £9-18-11.

Extract from 1915 Accounts (No of Ships 336               14759 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station                  £3-9-4.

Extract from 1916 Accounts (No of Ships 271               10117 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station:                  £0-14-4.

Extract from 1917 Accounts (No of Ships 152               64345 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station:                  £1-14-6.

Extract from 1918 Accounts (No of Ships 68                54519 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station: £20-1-10.

Extract from 1919 Accounts (No of Ships 111               82578 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station:                  £1-5-6.
This station which has not been occupied for a long time by the Pilots has become greatly dilapidated. It has been broken into on several occasions and fittings stolen or damaged and large portions of timber work from the landing slips have disappeared, notwithstanding that a carpenter has frequently to be sent down to screw up and fasten doors and windows.

Extract from 1920 Accounts (No of Ships 208               108780 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station                  £134-5-8.
Landing stages and house were overhauled and thoroughly repaired. The place had become dilapidated owing to being unoccupied for so long.

Extract from 1921 Accounts (No of Ships 295               158076 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station:                  £78-5-1.
Maintenance of landing stages and house.

Extract from 1922 Accounts (No of Ships 392               174131 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station:                  £47-16-1.
Repair and maintenance of landing stages and house.

Extract from 1923 Accounts (No of Ships 365               174635 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station:                  £45-3-1.
Overhauling, repairing and painting.
Waiting Room at the Dock gates has been renovated for the Pilots at a cost of £5-1-7.

Extract from 1924 Accounts (No of Ships 352               197793 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station:                  £78-18-1.
Maintenance and repairs of the Stations and erecting a Flag-staff and supplying a “pram”.

Extract from 1925 Accounts (No of Ships 357               184021 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station:                 £31-2-2.

Extract from 1926 Accounts (No of Ships 348               195706 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station                  £4-10-9.

Extract from 1927 Accounts (No of Ships 427               234398 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station                  £107-15-9.
Extensive repairs were carried out on the Pilot house and the north landing stages were rebuilt.

Extract from 1928 Accounts (No of Ships 455               242308 NRT)
Cain's Island Pilot Station:                 £22-7-0.

(It looks like the Cain's Island Pilot Station was better maintained during this period as practically no money was spent on Kilcredane Fort. Number of Ships exclude River Craft and NRT=Nett Registered Tonnage)

1941 Limerick Leader 22/12/2001 (50 years ago)
Pilots Resign
At a meeting of Limerick Harbour Board, letters were read from M C Hanrahan, of 8 Alphonsus Avenue, Limerick, and Pilot Michael Scanlan, Scattery Island, resigning owing to ill-health.
The manager said that Mr Hanrahan had 48 years' service and Mr Scanlan 43 years' service.
The Chairman said that both resignations would be accepted with regret. Mr Hanrahan and Mr Scanlan had given long and faithful service, and it was a matter of deep regret that their resignations were due to ill-health. He hoped that they would be long spared to enjoy their retirement.

1953 29th April. (Irish Independent)
Pilots Object to New Shannon Launch
Lower Shannon pilots interviewed in Kilrush protested against the statement of Mr W.M. McGuire, chairman of Limerick Harbour Board, that they are agreeable to work the Board's new pilot launch which will be launched in Arklow to-day.
They objected to the launch, firstly on the grounds that Cappa Pier, where it is proposed to keep it, is open and exposed to rough weather. Secondly in their opinion the launch would be awkward to manoeuvre in approaching a ship. Thirdly the launch is costing £4,400. Which the pilots are expected to repay. It would require a crew in addition to the pilot and the pilots contend that the present trade on the Shannon would not justify this extra expense. To cover it would necessitate at least 50 per cent extra on the pilotage rate.
The pilots say they have an efficient pilot station built by themselves at Scattery Island.