Pilot-Dockers in French ports during the 17th and 18 th centuries
Résumé
We will present the characteristics and evolution of a maritime profession, the pilot-dockers, also known as "Locmans" or "Coastal pilots" in French language. This activity is highly supervised and resulted in a regulation by the Royal State in the sixteenth century which gives the admiraltys the control police at the entrance and exit of the ports and harbours of the kingdom. The Great Marine Ordinance of 1681 confirms this interest in piloting in ports by dedicating him a long Title with several Articles of the law. However, in practice, the organization of the profession, the existence and number of officially recognized pilots, differed according to the ports during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Pilot-docker is a demanding job and hard work, but it entitles some benefits. The control system (age, residence, examination, letter of receipt, fees or taxes) allows the pilots to be checked, to ensure the security of port access, to regulate their number according to the maritime traffic. Progressively, given the advantages of dispensation from the class service on the French Navy, the pilot places are reserved for the "old seafarers". This activity is therefore a very good observatory to approach historical questions of professionnal skills, access to the activity and trades, monopoly or freedom work in France during the Old Regime.