Many boatmen were engaged in harbor commerce. Among them were lightermen, canal boat men, tug boat men, and harbor pilots.

Canal boats moved merchandise from city to city on canals. In New York state the Erie canal stretched from Buffalo to Albany. The boats were towed along the canal between Albany and Buffalo by mules or horses. From Albany to New York city the canal boats were tied together in groups and towed by tug boats.

See Waterfront Red Hook Brooklyn - Canal Boats

A lighterman operates a a type of flat bottom barge called a lighter which is used to transport goods from ships to warehouses and visa verse. The boat may be powered by motor or manually by oars. The move to container shipping had virtually obliterated this occupation.

See Waterfront Red Hook Brooklyn - Lighters

A large ship coming into a harbor could have difficulty if the captain did not know the tides, channels, shifting shoals, boat congestion and other potential hazards. A pilot was a mariner who know his harbor well. He would go out to meet a ship. Aided by tugs he would lead the ship into and thru the harbor to its birth.

A relative of mine was a harbor pilot in New York harbor in 1918. See John Petermann

See Waterfront Red Hook Brooklyn - Pilots

Tugs are the work horses of harbor craft. They come in alls sizes and strengths. See Waterfront Red Hook Brooklyn - Tugs

Maggie