TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 



203 



is gratifying to learn that a great improvement has been effected in this respect, 

 and they are now, in general, as well-behaved as the other working-classes oi the 

 city. This change speaks much for the success of Mr. Stewart's efforts in behalf of 

 the moral and physical improvement of his work-people. 



The comb-manufacture is also carried on with great spirit and success by Messrs. 

 John M'Pherson and Co. They employ from 170 to 200 male work-people, and from 

 50 to 60 females. 



The quantity of raw materials used annually is about 350,000 horns, and 700,000 

 hoofs. 



I may add, that the change in fashion — the mode in which ladies dress their hair 

 — has of late materially affected the comb trade, and its extent is not nearly so 

 great as it was a few years ago. The next change of fashion, it is to be hoped, may 

 bring about a revival in this important trade. 



Quill Manufacture. — Considering the almost universal use of metallic pens, it is 

 surprising to find that the manufacture and sale of quills continue to be about as 

 great as ever. Indeed, the progress of education, and perhaps more than anything 

 else, the introduction of the penny postage, have caused such an increased use of 

 the pen, that, had not metallic substitutes been adopted, all the geese in the world 

 could not have supplied the demand. The Aberdeen Quill Manufactory is the only 

 one of any extent in Scotland. It was established about forty years ago. Several 

 millions of swan, goose, and crow quills are annually manufactured ; and, besides 

 supplying the home market, they are largely exported to India, America, and the 

 Colonies. The countries from which the raw material is imported are Eussia, 

 England, and Ireland ; and the price continues to be about the same as before the 

 introduction of the steel pen. 



Harbour and Railway. — Perhaps there is no better criterion for showing the pro- 

 gress of the trade of the city than by a statement of the shore and harbour dues 

 on goods and shipping during the last fifty years. These amounted in 



1810 £6,443 



1820 7,711 



1830 10,744 



1840 15,516 



1850 £17,069 



1851 15,127 



1858 19,036 



From these figures it will be seen that a gradual increase has taken place in the 

 Shore and Harbour Dues since 1810, with the exception of the year 1851, when a 

 reduction of about £2000 took place. This is explained by the circumstance that 

 the South Railway was opened, and had been in full operation during the whole of 

 that year. But it is gratifying to find that the revenue of the harbour is now 

 about as high as it ever has been — thus showing that during the last eight years 

 the trade of the city has been increased by about the whole of the railway traffic. 



Shipping. — This subject will, I trust, be taken up separately, as it is one that 

 deserves to be fully illustrated, seeing that the fame of the Aberdeen " clipper bow," 

 and the high character of the Aberdeen ship-builders have been spread to all quar- 

 ters of the world. 



I shall therefore confine myself to a statement of the progressive increase of the 

 ships belonging to the port : — 



Years. 



1656 



1760 



1800 



1840 



1850 



1858 



Vessels. 

 9 

 45 

 270 

 192 

 252 

 260 



From this statement it will be observed that, while the number of ships since 

 1800 has slightly decreased, the tonnage has been more than tripled. In 1800, the 

 average size of each ship was only 78 J tons, whereas the average is now 273 tons ; 

 while the whole tonnage of the port in 1800 was only 21,215, it is now 71,000. 



Since the year 1810, when the principal improvements on our harbour com- 

 menced, there has been expended upon it about £600,000. 



