The State Pilotage Commission shall issue to each pilot licensed and branched by them an original and a duplicate certificate of his appointment, competency and authority to act as such pilot, and as to the extent thereof, and shall reissue duplicate certificates from time to time, as the occasion may require. Such original and duplicate certificates shall be signed by a majority of the commissioners or by their chairman by their direction. Each bay or bar pilot holding a license or branch must keep upon his person, when offering his services to any vessel, his duplicate certificate and must, upon demand of the proper officer of the vessel, exhibit the same and allow such officer to inspect it.

Before issuing an original license or branch, the commissioners delivering the same to the appointee shall require him to take and subscribe in writing an oath as follows, to be administered by such commissioners: "I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully and according to the best of my skill and judgment perform the duties of a pilot for the Bay and Harbor of Mobile; that I will at all times, wind and weather and health permitting, use my best exertions to repair on board all vessels which I shall see and conceive to be bound for, coming into or going out of the Harbor or Bay of Mobile, unless I am well assured that some other licensed pilot is then on board the same; that I will at all times make the best dispatch in my power to convey safely every vessel committed to my charge coming into or going out of the Bay or Harbor of Mobile; and will at all times well and truly observe, follow and fulfill, to the best of my skill and judgment, all such directions as I may receive from the commissioners of pilotage relative to things appertaining to the duty of a pilot, and I will not be a member at the same time of more than one combination or partnership of pilots. So help me God."