"Poseidon" and "Beryl" in Dundee Docks - Ref: WC0782
The "Poseidon" was built by R. Duncan and Co., of Port Glasgow, in 1881 for C. S. Caird of Greenock. She had a gross tonnage of 1778 and was 264.5 ft long. According to Llyods Register, she was under survey at the time this photograph was taken.
The "Beryl" was a single-srew steamer, built in Dundee by W. B. Thompson for the Dundee Gem Line Steam Ship Company, and she sailed the Baltic trading run, delivering flax and hemp to Dundee's factories from St Petersburg and Riga among others.
Alexander Wilson took this photograph from the south west side of Dundee's Victoria Dock. The 90-ton crane (one of the most powerful such machines of the day) can be seen in the background.
Alexander Wilson who took this photograph, was a supervisor in a Dundee jute mill for over 20 years. He bequeathed much of his collection and £50, to cover the costs involved, to the Free Library Committee of Dundee in 1923.