McGrady (vol 1 p. 344)
. . . [A statute] passed March 25, 1691, no doubt based upon that of 1685. This appointed three regular pilots who were required to make it their business to look out for ships coming into the harbor, regulating their conduct and prescribing the rates of pilotage.
In 1694 an addition to this act was made providing for the maintenance of a watch on Sullivan's Island as well. In 1696 this was again added to and amended, and rates for bringing in vessels by the different channels prescribed.
These pilots Lawson found on duty when he arrived in 1700. There was need of them; for from the town could now be seen entering the harbor vessels from Jamaica, Barbadoes, and the Leeward Islands, from Virginia and the other colonies, and the always welcome ships from England. About twelve of these ships were owned by the colonists, half of which were built by themselves.
These were, however, small; for, unhappily, the bar across the mouth of the harbor admitted no ships of above 200 tons. Archdale, writing in 1707, says he could demonstrate what a great advantage Carolina is to the trade of England by consuming commodities from thither, and by bringing great duties to the Crown by importing goods or commodities thence : " For Charles Town trades near 1000 miles into the continent." That notwithstanding all the discouragements the town had met withal, yet seventeen ships that year came thence to London in the Virginia fleet laden from Carolina with rice, skins, pitch, and tar, besides several stragglers.
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