[1] They are called "Sandy Hook pilots" because they maneuver ships across a large and dangerous sand bar along the coast of New Jersey at the southern entrance of Lower New York Bay south of New York City.

The Board of Commissioners is a public agency, created in 1853 during the first session of the New York State Legislature, Chapter 467, Laws of 1853, to provide the selection, training, and regulation of New York pilots.

[2] In 1845, an unofficial Pilot Commission was established with two representatives from the Marine Underwriters and three from the Chamber of Commerce.

[3] Blunt helped to organized the pilot service for the New York Harbor.

He was re-elected by the Chamber of Commerce to the New York Board of Pilot Commissioners from 1868-1870.