The Company has given special attention to the transit of cattle to and from the River Plate, in which trade it has nine steamers, specially built for this service, having permanent fittings for the conveyance of live-stock.
These vessels have a most satisfactory record for the carriage of the cattle shipped by them. Live stock are also carried between New York and Manchester by boats specially adapted to the requirements of the North Atlantic Trade.
All the steamers of the Lamport and Holt fleet are fitted with the most modern appliances for the rapid and effective handling of general cargo. The operations of the Company are varied and extensive and comprise the following regular services:—From Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool to Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and Santos, fortnightly. From London and Antwerp to Rio de Janeiro and Santos, every ten days. From New York (carrying first and third-class passengers) to Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and Santos, fortnightly. Also to the River Plate from Liverpool, fortnightly; from Glasgow, monthly; from London and Antwerp, fortnightly; and from New York at frequent intervals. A regular monthly service is also maintained between Liverpool, Glasgow, and West Coast ports in Chili, Peru, and Ecuador.
The steamers of this Line have always been very popular with shippers, who are able to depend upon regularity of service, and careful handling of their goods.
H. & W. Nelson, Limited.—This remarkably successful Company was founded in 1889, by Messrs. Hugh and William Nelson.
The pioneer steamer of the fleet was the steamer Spindrift, now the Highland Scot, which sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage on the 12th December, 1889.
Highland Brigade s.s. H. & W. Nelson, Limited.
A few months later (May, 1890) the second steamer of the line, the Highland Chief, was launched, and the following year three additional steamers were built for the Company, and named respectively the Highland Glen, Highland Lassie and Highland Mary.
Since that date, nine vessels (including three now building) have been added to the fleet, which consists of fourteen powerful modern steamships of large carrying capacity. These steamers are all very similar in design (though several are much larger) to the Highland Enterprise, of which particulars are given below.