WOOD-WORKING MACHINERY, ITS RISE, PROGRESS, AND CONSTRUCTION, by M. Powis Bale: London, Crosby, Lockwood & Co., 1880. ON STAMPING AND WELDING UNDER THE STEAM HAMMER, by Alex. M‘Donnell: Proceedings Inst. Civil Engineers, vol. lxxiii., 1882-83. ON THE DECAUVILLE PORTABLE RAILWAY, by M. Decauville: Proceedings Inst. Mech. Engineers, 1884. CHAPTER VI. DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NOTABLE SHIPYARDS. Although in the preceding chapter the main directions in which progress with respect to shipyard appliances and methods of work have been outlined, the record necessarily fails to cover many minor matters which are still essential to an appreciative view of modern shipbuilding. This want cannot better be supplied than by giving detailed descriptions of some representative shipyards and engineering works throughout the principal centres. The establishments which will be selected for notice are amongst the largest in the several districts, and on the whole represent almost all that is advanced in the shipbuilding industry, while to most of them a special interest attaches through the many high-class vessels produced from their stocks for the better-known shipping lines. On such grounds it is hoped the intelligent reader will find the choice of yards—where there was no alternative but to choose—justified and fitting. Three Clyde shipyards, two on the Tyne, one on the Wear, and one at Barrow-in-Furness, will be described. The accounts are written from authoritative information specially supplied, aided and verified by personal knowledge of the works dealt with, and are chiefly concerned with the capability and arrangement of the several yards. Other matters of a more technical nature, such as the comparison of methods of work in the several districts,[31] are not dealt with. To some extent this still differs in individual yards, but modern practice is being more assimilated throughout the districts as time goes on. The first establishment dealt with will be:— MESSRS JOHN ELDER & CO.’S SHIPBUILDING AND MARINE ENGINEERING WORKS, FAIRFIELD, GOVAN, NEAR GLASGOW.