194 • '^^^ Atlantic 



triangle was simply an advantageous way of doing business — adding 

 extra profit to what would otherwise be a two-way transaction. 



When the Columbia and other early American vessels sailed from 

 Boston to the American Northwest with manufactured articles and 

 supplies which they traded for furs, which they bartered in China for 

 tea and silks, which they sold in Boston, they were establishing what 

 was technically a "triangular trade" even though their course traced 

 out on a chart or globe might look Hke a warped pretzel. 



The chapter on the whalers and the slavers shows in two special 

 cases the rapid and far-reaching eflects of the United States' power to 

 recuperate. Other chapters show how the "regular traders" and the 

 packet ships carried to Europe tobacco, cotton and other great staple 

 products of American agriculture. As far as export freight was con- 

 cerned, cotton was the special cargo that helped to sustain the devel- 

 opment of coastwise and transatlantic packets. 



As the Midwest opened up corn, wheat and other grains began to 

 make up cargoes for the European markets. Then came shipments of 

 cattle, of refrigerated and processed meats, ores and processed metals, 

 special American machinery developments such as agricultural ma- 

 chinery, sewing machines, etc., and finally many classes of mass manu- 

 factured articles. 



As far as imports were concerned, these have always reflected the 

 diversified origin of the American population — a persistent belief in 

 the excellence of certain Old World products as well as enduring pref- 

 erences. The bands of association by blood and tradition that 

 stretched across the Atlantic from colonial times on were reflected in 

 trade. The trade continued from one era and generation to another. 



Thus even after New Amsterdam became New York there contin- 

 ued to be a market there for Dutch products such as tiles and potter- 

 ies, furniture, silverware, fabrics and laces, cheeses and other food 

 products, chocolate and candies. 



To this day, England supplies cloth and men's clothing, shoes, sad- 

 dles and other fine leather goods, cutlery and special steel products and 

 special machineries, fine linens and cottons, furniture, glassware and 

 china. 



Germany supplies surgical and scientific instruments, drugs and 

 chemicals and toilet articles, optical goods and photographic equip- 

 ment, special and precision machinery, printing and art reproductions, 

 toys. 



France sends silks, laces and other textiles, women's clothing and 



