SOURCE: REMARKS ON LONDON, being an Exact Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, Borough of Southwark... By W. Stow., London, 1722.
A half Firkin ----------------------- 0s. 1d.
Whole Firkin ----------------------- 0s. 2d.
Hogshead ------------------------- 2s. 0d.
One hundred Weight of Cheese, Iron, or any heavy Goods ------ 0s. 4d.
Sack of Salt, Corn, an ordinary Chest, Trunk, or Hamper --------- 0s. 6d.
Every single Person in the ordinary Passage ----------------------- 0s. 6d.
The Hire of the whole Tilt Boat ------------------------------------- 22s. 6d.
What Waterman takes and demands more than these Rates lies liable to pay 40s. and suffer half a Year's Imprisonment. And if they refuse to carry any Passenger, or Goods, at these Rates, upon Complaint made to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, he shall be suspended from his Employment for 12 Months. Farthermore observe, That if a Waterman makes you pay more than the the abovesaid Rates, get his Name, or else take the Number of his Boat, then go to Watermen's Hall, which is at Cold Harbour, near the Old Swan in Thames Street, and relate your Business to the Clerk, giving him the Number of the Boat, or the Waterman's Name, and he (paying him 6d.) will summon him to attend at the Hall, and answer the Complaint you have against him; where you will be sure to have Justice done you, and the Person punished as the Fault deserve.
Directions for passing & repassing on Water about London.
Observe, that below Bridge, the Water ebbs 7 Hours, and flows 5; above Bridge it ebbs 8 Hours, and flows 4, according to the Watermen's Observations; who, in their way of Business, use these Terms : When the Water is at lowest, then it is call'd Flood; if rising, the Young or Old Flood; when at highest, and begins to fall, Ebb-water.
High Water is the Time at Billingsgate for all Passengers that are bound for Gravesend, Tilbury, Greys, and other Places below Bridge; if bound to Woolwich, Blackwall, Greenwich, or Deptford, any time till 1, 2 or 3 hours after High Water, will serve; if you are to pass far up the River, as to Kingston, Hampton Court, Windsor, and other Places Westward, then take Water at Flood, that is, 4 hours before High Water; to Brentford, Putney, Richmond, or the like Distance, 3 hours before High Water will do; and to Battersea, Chelsea, or Mortlack, at 1 or 2 hours before the Time of High Water.