pilots’ widows, and 115 orphan children of pilots. The average
amount of the pensions for the pilots was kr. 198, for the widows,
kr. 68 and for the children, hr. 39; and the total amount of the
annual pensions paid to these persons was kr. 111,147.
All merchant vessels of at least 30 *) register tons’ burden,
coming from or. leaving for ports outside Norway **) are subject
to compulsory pilotage, or rather, since the year 1869, must pay
a pilot s fee. Vessels, carrying on fishing or other similar industries
in the open sea, are also subject to compulsory pilotage, unless
they be under 130 ton’s burden.
The number of pilotings of vessels, subject to pilotage, performed
in 1897, was 17,410, and the aggregate amount of pilotage
fees was about kr. 615,000. Of this amount, the pilots themselves
retained about kr. 490,000, while about kr. 42,600 went to the
master-pilots ***), and about kr. 85,000 to the relief fund for
pilots, which also received about kr: 13,000 from vessels which,
although subject to compulsory pilotage fees, did not employ a
pilot. Some vessels not subject to compulsory pilotage also employ
pilots, and in the year 1897, our pilots made an income of about
kr. 70,000- from this source.
The Norwegian pilots are renowned for their ability, and the
courage and devotion to duty displayed by them in the performance
of their often arduous and dangerous task. Almost every year
several of them lose their lives on the sea, either in the service,
or while engaged in fishing. In the course of the years 1890—97,
19 Norwegian pilots have lost their lives at.sea, 11 while engaged
in the service, and 8 while engaged in other work.
XI. HARBOUR ADMINISTRATION.
Norway is by nature well provided with good harbours, some
of which are situated in the narrow fjords, some on the coast, or
*) Before April 1st, 1900, 21.
**) The general exemption from compulsory pilotage which formerly applied
to the trade between Norway and Sweden was repealed in the latter country in
1894 for ships of more than 40 tons’ burden, and in Norway after April 1st,
1900 (excepting for vessels of less than 30 tons’ burden). The act of 1899,
however, authorises the King to grant relief from these regulations, provided
similar relief measures are introduced in Sweden.
*•*) Before April 1st, 1900, 68A % of the fees went to the master-pilots.
on islands protected by the belt of rocks and small islands, the
skjeergaard, which, with few interruptions, encircles the whole
Norwegian coast up to the North Cape. '
In the towns, as well as in different places in the country
districts, more or less! important harbour-works have been made
at the public or municipal expense, and the cost , of maintaining,
extending and administering these1 works amounts to about
two million kroner per annum. Of this amount the Treasury
pays about kr. 400,000 directly, and a somewhat less amount is
paid by the Harbour Fund, established by the government and
formed and maintained by an export tax imposed upon fishery
products, while the municipal harbour funds contribute about 1.5
million kroner (1895). These last-mentioned funds are chiefly
made up of harbour dues, a percentage of the import duties, etc.
The total amount paid by the Treasury and by the said
Harbour Fund for harbour works during the years 1862S1899, is
12 million kroner, of which more than 2 millions were for the
harbour of Yardo on the Arctic Ocean.
XII. LIGHTHOUSES, BEACONS AND SEA-MARKS.
The long coast of Norway must now be said to be well
provided with lighthouses,, beacons and sea-marks. The Norwegian
State annually grants a large amount; at present about one million
kr., to complete and improve the lighting and marking of the
coast, and the mooring arrangements. In the year 1899, the State
maintained 137 lighthouse- stations with a permanent staff, 10
of these lighthouses being of the first, and 17 of the second order;
and there were moreover 447 beacon lights; thè number of seamarks
in 1899 was about 3,600 fixed, and about 1,120 floating ones ;
at the same time there were 17 mooring bnoys and about 7,300
rings and other mooring arrangements.
XIII. STRANDINGS AND SHIPWRECKS.
The strandings on the Norwegian coast are not numerous
compared with the large amount of shipping which passes along
it, especially along the southern coast towards the Skagerak. This
is chiefly ,to be ascribed to the many good harbours that are to