Pilots or pirates

This story appeared in a series of articles by Forrest Frank in 1920 in the Scarborough Daily Post - This story came from Captain Wilson

The procedure for pilotage into Scarborough Harbour was simple. On the Platform there were always two or three coblemen with spy glasses on the lookout for anything likely coming from the southward, and another couple or so on the North Cliff at the Holmes, to see if there was anything from the north. As soon as one was sighted, theobserver or his mate would run down to his coble to get her out, and five other men would join him - it always understood that the first to get into her would have an oar and a share of what was made with the owner of the boat. The movements of these would be observed by others, and soon a number of cobles, each containing six men, would be afloat and racing for the incoming vessel. There was always great excitement at such moments, and some very fine races were provided. In bad weather the visitor found ther proffered help of the greatest service, but unless he was in extremity he would never accept aid without striking a bargain first, for between these pilots and pirates there used to be less difference in sound than in fact - hence the chuckle my brothre had over the Sheperdess's arrival and the chagrin of the pilots when they found she had been brought to the pier end minus anchor and cable for 15 shillings!



OTHER ARTICLES
• A Harbour quarrel by John Rushton - Scarborough history
• Harwood Brierleys description of Scarborough harbour at the opening of the 20th century
• Customs Officer during golden age of smuggling in Scarborough
• Radio 270 - pirate radio station off Scarborough
• Stories of human interest from the sea port of Scarborough
• Watching for ships by the harbour walls in Scarborough
• Ray Edmonds stories of the Old Town in Scarborough
• The port of Scarborough in the late 15th Century
• The Borough of Scarborough formed in the 12th Century
• Sea Urchin Stall on the West Pier at Scarborough
• Seabathing in scarborough - an article by John Rushton
• When the Colliers came to Scarborough
• The Harwood and Bullamore fishing family history in Scarborough
• The Allen and Truman Scarborough fishing families
• Scarborough's harbour and the coal trade. Thomas Hinderwell
• Some typical Scarborough boats
• Pirates threaten a Scarborough ship
• Scarborough harbour
• The life of Scarborough fishermen

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