The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915 Page: 123
438 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Early Sentiment for Annexation of California 123
mercial relations with the United States showed little change dur-
ing this period."1 The year 1843 was one of hard times, and
the trading vessels had difficulty in securing even a fraction of
their accustomed cargo of hides.12 Whaling ships in larger num-
bers18 continued to use the California ports, especially San Fran-
cisco, as depots, for reprovisioning and refitting. But until the
delphia. Lea and Blanchard. 1844, 1845); L. W. Hastings, Emigrant's
Guide to Oregon to Oregon and California (Cincinnati. 1845), etc. Most
of these gave the usual descriptions of the political conditions of Cali-
fornia, and of its commercial and agricultural advantages. All devote
considerable space to San Francisco. For the influence exerted in this
way, especially by Farnham, see Thwaites, Early Western Travels, XXVIII,
14; and McMaster, History of the United States, VII, 297. Hastings's
efforts in connection with immigration will be considered later. Wilkes's
narrative, only a small part of which dealt with California, ran through
several editions. A somewhat scathing review of the contributions made
by Wilkes is to be found in the North American Review, XVI, 54-107.
Larkin also was busy at this time encouraging immigration. Besides
his despatches to the State Department, already noted, he collected infor-
mation regarding all arrivals and sent communications to the American
papers tending to arouse an interest in California. See, for example,
Larkin to Sutter, April 29, 1844; Larkin, Official Correspondence, Pt. I1,
No. 7; Robinson to Larkin, Sept. 24, 1844; Larkin MSS., II, No. 210.
"For a general description of trading conditions along the coast, see
Larkin, Description of California (Commerce). Duties of the principal
vessels amounted to sums ranging from $5000 to $25,000. A storage
charge of twelve and a half cents (one real) was made for each large
bale, and half the amount for wharfage. Tonnage dues were $1.50 per
ton. There were no health or quarantine regulations, and no further port
charges or fees. There were no prohibitions or restrictions as to the
class of imports, no bounty or navigation acts and no drawbacks. Smug-
gling was common, and the bribery of California customs officials a recog-
nized part of the trade.
The following table of customs receipts shows pretty clearly the relative
volume of trade from 1839 to 1845:
1839 .............. .............. .............$ 85,613
1840 ............ .................. ..... 72,308
1841 ........ .. . ...... ....................... 101,150
1842 .......... . ............................ 73,729
1843 .... ...................................... 52,000
1844 ......... ....... ...................... 78,739
1845 ...... . ... ........................... 138,360
Larkin to Secretary of State, Dec. 31, 1845. Larkin, Official Corre-
spondence, Pt. II. No. 32.
"Tlecre were only 63,000 hides available for sixteen vessels. Bancroft,
XXI, 339.
"sDavis, Sixty Years in California (214-215) says that as many as thirty
or forty whaling vessels were in the port of San Francisco at one time
during 1843, 1844, and 1845. See also Larkin to Calhoun, Aug. 24, 1844.
MS., State Department; same to same, Dec. 12-Thinks there will be six
hundred American vessels on northwest coast within three years. Official
Correspondence, Pt. II, No. 13.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915, periodical, 1915; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101064/m1/129/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.