Other guy I think.
The figures on imports and exports would show that for the most part ships arrived at southern ports empty and loaded up for the voyage home. That would be true regardless of whether they are U.S. or foreign flagged vessels. For the foreign ships the only explanation is that for the most part they unloaded in the north and then went south to load up for the voyage home.
“The figures on imports and exports would show that for the most part ships arrived at southern ports empty and loaded up for the voyage home. That would be true regardless of whether they are U.S. or foreign flagged vessels. For the foreign ships the only explanation is that for the most part they unloaded in the north and then went south to load up for the voyage home.”
Multiple examples are found, mostly from Charleston as newspapers there seem to list more detail, at least in the online archive I am searching, of foreign ships unloading their cargo, many again with specific cargo manifests and even names of those ordering the goods. As some of the stiffer provisions of earlier navigation acts had been repealed in 1830, I’m not sure why foreign ships would have to head west with empty cargo holds.
I have only listed ships identified as foreign or which can be so identified.
“IMPORTS-NOVEMBER 28
LIVERPOOL- Br. ship Aeolus-3,293 sacks Salt, to C.T. Mitchell & Co.”
Charleston Daily Courier
November 26, 1850
“Charleston Imports-February 28.
MARCH 1
LIVERPOOL-Ship Lady Sale-3063 sacks Salt, to order.”
Charleston Daily Courier
March 2, 1858
“Savannah Imports-November 19
Liverpool— Ship Highland Chief-1010 bars iron, 21 bundles iron, 6 casks hardware, 3 casks earthenware, 22 bags nails, 27 anvils, 37 casks and boxes mdze., 3995 sacks salt.”
Charleston Daily Courier
November 22, 1858
“Charleston Imports-February 22
Rotterdam-Dutch brig America-99 casks Madder, 375 bales Chicorey Roots, 60 pipes and 40 three-quarter pipes Gin, to order”
Charleston Daily Courier
February 23, 1859
“Charleston Imports- December 12
LIVERPOOL-British ship Sunderland-32 cases Segars (sic), to J. Bancroft, Jr., I bale Mdze. and 1 case Saddlery, to A. McKenzie & Co.; 100 bbls. Bottled Beer, to Ravenel & Co., 657 tons Coal, to J. Schneirle.”
Charleston Daily Courier
December 13, 1860