104 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF ABERDEEN AND DISTRICT 
Mills, in the Green, which had a long history of over a century, also 
closed its doors. Although by the closing of the Bannermill the cotton 
industry has been lost to Aberdeen, the closing of Hadden’s mills had 
no such bad result, as the woollen industry has continued to develop 
in Aberdeen and adjoining shire. 
Hipes, SKINS AND TaLLow.—As the centre of a large agricultural 
district Aberdeen has one or two large concerns dealing in hides, skins 
and tallow which give employment to a large number of men. 
Hostery.—The hosiery trade of Scotland began in Aberdeen, with 
which the African Company (1695) contracted for woollen stockings, 
and at the time when Pennant wrote (1771), 69,333 dozen pairs of stockings 
were yearly produced in the city, these being worth about thirty shillings 
per dozen, and being chiefly exported to Holland for dispersion thence - 
through Germany. Aberdeen is now one of the chief centres in Scotland 
for the manufacture of hosiery, and over half a dozen firms manufacture 
hosiery, outerwear, underwear, and knitted woollen gloves. Although, 
like other branches of industry, they have felt the effect of the trade slump, 
business is now picking up again, and most of the mills report they are 
again working full time. 
Paint.—In this particular industry Aberdeen can boast of at least 
one firm which can claim an unbroken record of more than 100 years. 
The result of that long period of unabated effort is that paints and 
enamels manufactured by Messrs. Farquhar & Gill, Ltd., under the good 
brand of ‘ Bon-Accord,’ are to be found in most of the world’s best 
markets, and to-day there is no brand which can show a reputation for 
quality superior to that passing under our good city’s name of ‘ Bon- 
Accord.’ 
SHIPBUILDING.—Shipbuilding was carried on in Aberdeen as early as 
the fifteenth century. In the days of the wooden ship the Aberdeen 
clipper won for itself a wide repute, and after the turn over to iron, 
steel and steam, the city kept to the front with the construction of 
passenger and cargo liners and vessels for overseas trade. 
To-day, howbeit the big passenger liners and the larger cargo vessels 
have outgrown the capacity of the port, the three Aberdeen shipyards 
worthily uphold the tradition of the past for the building of good ships, 
and examples of their craftsmanship are to be found in all the seven seas. 
In spite of the adverse conditions shipbuilders everywhere have experienced 
since about 1921, the trio of local builders have kept the flag flying and 
secured a fair share of the work available. In addition to vessels for 
British owners, vessels have been built at Aberdeen in recent years for 
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Spain and Belgium. 
Opportunity has not been lost during lean times to tighten up and 
perfect organisations with the determination of being able to compete 
in all markets open and to secure a full quota of work when demand 
again arises, as sooner or later it must. Building berths are suitable 
for vessels up to 350 ft. in length ; high-class passenger and cargo vessels, 
self-trimming colliers, suction and grab dredgers, coasting vessels, yachts, 
tugs and barges, are types representative of the production of Aberdeen 
shipbuilders. 
