I have a photograph of the South Dock just as it is depicted by Conrad, showing the long row of lean, knife-like cut-waters, surmounted by their spotless figure-heads, and with their bowsprits stabbing the sheds opposite, whilst the masts and yards criss-cross the dull grey of the London sky.
Before proceeding to the ships themselves, I must not omit to say a few words about the men who built these splendid iron sailing ships.
The London River, partly owing to an ill-advised strike and partly owing to its distance from the raw material in comparison to the northern ports, entirely lost its shipbuilding business in the latter half of the nineteenth century; and the builders of the iron wool clipper were pretty evenly distributed over the Clyde, the Mersey and Aberdeen. Once more, as with the tea clippers, there was a keen rivalry between Glasgow and Aberdeen, and it is difficult to say which carried the day, for both cities were represented by countless beautiful ships. Duthie, Hall and Hood had, however, to contend with more than twice their number of Clydeside rivals. If I were asked to give my humble opinion, I should award the palm to Messrs. Barclay, Curle & Co. for producing the most perfect iron ships that ever sailed the seas. They built many of the best “Lochs,” such as _Loch Maree_, and the four-posters _Lochs Torridon_, _Carron_ and _Broom_. They were responsible for the whole of Carmichael’s splendid fleet, and the two famous “Bens”—_Voirlich_ and _Cruachan_—emanated from their drawing lofts.
Thomson, of Glasgow, built some half-dozen “Lochs,” his masterpiece being the _Loch Garry_. The rest of the Loch Line were divided amongst Lawrie, Inglis, Henderson, and Connell. Duthie’s finest ship was the _Brilliant_. Hall built the well-known _Port Jackson_, whilst Hood was the originator of all the Aberdeen White Star ships and also built the smart little _Cimba_.
Heap’s ships were mostly built by Evans, of Liverpool; and Potter, of Liverpool, produced the two well-known London ships, _Thomas Stephens_ and _Old Kensington_. Of the other London owned ships, _Hesperus_ and _Harbinger_ worthily upheld the name of Steele, while Pile, of Sunderland, was represented by _Rodney_.