The ships of the British and Irish Steam Packet Company are as well-known at Falmouth, Plymouth, Southampton, and Portsmouth as they are at the terminal ports of London and Dublin. Being so well-found, roomy, comfortable, and up-to-date, and calling in at all the principal southern ports, it is but natural that they should be favourites with the holiday-making and touring public. So favourably are they held in this respect that during the “fine weather” months they seldom leave port without having a full complement of passengers, of whom (as has been stated) they are designed to carry a large number. [Illustration: Steamship] CHAPTER VII. THE BIBBY LINE. Reference has been made, in a previous chapter of this work, to this old-established firm. It was engaged in shipping in 1807, five years before the first British steamboat was launched. At that early date the fleet consisted of small sailing vessels, but in 1821 a regular line of ships to the East Indies was established. Of the old Liverpool shipowning firms which had their flag signal posts on Bidston Hill, only three now remain, viz., Messrs. Bibby, Brocklebank, and Sandbach Tinne. In 1851 the firm, then under the guidance of the late Mr. James J. Bibby, went into the steam trade, their first boats, the TIBER and ARNO, being built on the Clyde by John Reid and Co. Mr. Bibby, in 1859, commenced entrusting the building of the steamers of the line to Messrs. Harland and Wolff, and from that date every succeeding vessel has been constructed by the same firm. It may be interesting to recall that the late Sir Edward Harland, who was the son of a personal friend of Mr. Bibby, commenced operations at Belfast with the order for the SICILIAN, VENETIAN and SYRIAN. Mr. Bibby adopted the system of building his boats on commission, a system which ensures the greatest co-operation between builder and owner, and by which he secured the greatest advantage wherever his interests were concerned. The three boats last named were followed by the EGYPTIAN in 1861. All of these vessels carried clipper bows with figure heads and bowsprits, but the succeeding ships were built with straight stems, an innovation, the credit of which (and of many other improvements now generally adopted) is due to Mr. Bibby. The IBERIAN, ILLYRIAN and ISTRIAN, all built in 1867, were the first of the fleet to carry the new type of bow, and they were followed by a long succession of well-known names, leading up to the present steamers on the Colombo and Rangoon and Southern Indian route. [Illustration: Modern Bibby Liner.] This service, which was established in 1891, quickly became prominent among the fast passenger services, and, as such, was early recognised by the Government and placed on the list of the special lines available for officers, etc., returning at the expiration of their leave.