In the 1885 Dickens Thames Dictionary ‘Barges’ entry, he covers both dumb and sailing barges, his assessment of dumb barges and Thames Watermen is interesting and not complimentary. Here is what he says about sailing barges.
It is a singular fact, not unnoticed by the committee, that whereas the men who work in the dumb barges are very ill spoken of in almost every quarter, an excellent character is given to the men who navigate the sailing barges lower down the river. These men have no monopoly, and are exposed to free and open competition. They are, according to the almost unanimous evidence of skilled witnesses, pilots and so forth, skilful and careful navigators, and have gradually got into a custom of “give and take” with the steamers, which greatly facilitates the working of navigation rules. Of course opinions differ here, too, and Captain Woolcott, of the Peninsular and Oriental service, complains that he has suffered great inconvenience from sailing barges — it must always be a trying busi- ness to get a steamer of 4,000 tons, like the Pekin, down the Thames, and no doubt bargee is sometimes cantankerous and cross-grained— and suggested that the sailing vessel, in such cases, as being better under control, should give way. As the result of this and similar sugges- tions it was recommended that if two vessels, one of which is a sailing vessel and the other a steam vessel, are proceed- ing in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steam vessel shall, if it is safe and practicable for her to do so, keep out of the way of the sailing vessel.
The sailing barge fleet has of late years largely increased, and is still growing. It numbers now nearly 3,000, and it is stated that 100 such craft leave the Medway every 24 hours. They are fine, handy vessels, much improved in many respects latterly, and a rate of speed can be got out of them which would surprise most people whose only idea of a barge is derived from some of the old-fashioned tubs or the graceful dumb barge. Sailing barges of 45 tons register pay a small rate to the Conservancy, but the majority are smaller than this. A barge of 45 tons register will carry some 100 tons of goods, and is navigated by two men, who, if the vessel comes from Rochester or there- abouts, need not be freemen of the Watermen’s Company. Anybody, in fact, may bring a barge from the Med- way, but if the vessel start from Graves- end a freeman must be on board — an anomaly which appears absurd. Further, a barge coming up and going through the bridges is compelled, if it take a third hand, to take a waterman, although all the way from the Medway to London Bridge she may have been sailed by outsiders. Vested interests are indeed wonderful institutions, and singularly tenacious of life !
Charles Dickens
The interests of barge-owners, both sailing and dumb, are protected by the Barge-Owners’ Protection Society, which was founded in the year 1865. The members pay an annual subscription of 30J. for ten dumb or five sailing barges, for which they. receive legal advice from the solicitor on all matters of detail con- nected with the carriage and tranship- ment of goods, their detention claims are pressed, and their collision cases con- tested after they have been thoroughly sifted by a committee of practical men. The society numbers amongst its mem- bers the principal barge-owners of the Thames and Medway, and has for some years past averaged 350 cases of damage annually. The society is recognised as one of the institutions of the river, and was specially asked, .through its secretary, to send representatives to give evidence be- fore the Thames Traffic Committee. Its office is at 9c, Lower Thames-street {and see East and West India Docks).