Booth to Under-Secretary of State

I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for
Trade to request that you will inform Mr Secretary Cardwell that My
Lords have had under their consideration the Act of the Legislature
of Vancouver Island passed in March last and intituled No 89 "An Act
to establish Pilots for the Port of Victoria and for other purposes
relating thereto", with the Extract of observations thereon of the
Attorney General of that Colony which were enclosed with your letter
of the 16th of this month.

My Lords observe that the Act appears to make it compulsory on some
vessels bound inward to the Port of Victoria in that Island to
employ a pilot or pay the half pilotage rate.

This provision having been considered by the Colonial Authorities
desirable for shipping in the present circumstances of the Port My
Lords do not now see in it or in any other provision in the Act reason
why the Act may not properly be submitted for the sanction of Her
Majesty.

At the same time I am to suggest for the consideration of Mr
Cardwell that it might be well that the attention of the Governor of
the Colony should be directed with a view to future legislation to
the provisions relating to Pilotage contained in the Acts of the
Imperial Parliament, 17 & 18 Vic: C 104 and 25 & 26 V. C 63 and
more particularly to those which enable Pilotage Authorities to
extend exemptions from compulsory pilotage to reduce Pilotage rates
and to authorise Masters and Mates when found competent to pilot the
vessels to which they belong in waters where pilotage is compulsory.