View of the southern section of No. 8 pontoon under construction at north shields

Thanks Terry, I wonder why it was known as No 8 Pontoon when in fact it was their first. Or had they built others for someone else?

I have an article describing the design and opening of the dock which actually calls it an off shore dock and so maybe the name was applied at a later date when the company had several other docks.

Just looking through a Lloyds Register Appendix for 1901 and the docks are listed as:
Smith's High Docks No 1 (South Shields)
Smith's High Docks No 2 (South Shields)
Smith's High Docks No 3 (South Shields)
Dry Dock No 4 (North Shields)
Dry Dock No 5 (North Shields)
Dry Dock No 6 (North Shields)
Pontoon Dock (East) No 7 (North Shields)
Pontoon Dock (West) No 8 (North Shields)
All owned by Smith's Dock Co Ltd

Prior to the merger with HS Edwards and Edwards Brothers they were listed in LR-A 1898 as:
Edward's High Docks No 1 (South Shields), owned by HS Edwards & Sons
Edward's High Docks No 2 (South Shields), owned by HS Edwards & Sons
Edward's High Docks No 3 (South Shields), owned by HS Edwards & Sons
Dry Dock No 4 (North Shields), owned by HS Edwards & Sons
Dry Dock No 5 (North Shields), owned by HS Edwards & Sons
Pontoon Dock (East) (North Shields), owned by Smith's Dock Co Ltd
Pontoon Dock (West) (North Shields), owned by Smith's Dock Co Ltd