The First United States Consul in New Zealand

Abstract

THE MAJOR commercial event in the Pacific in the early part of the nineteenth century was the opening up of the China trade-and in this the United States participated no less actively than did Great Britain, France, and Russia. The transpacific route followed both the Great Circle to the north and the longer, but more profitable, path of the tropical archipelagos stretching from Hawaii to the East Indies. The embryonic settlements of New Zealand were far off this commercial route and as yet could offer no cargo except flax and timber to fill the hold of a trader returning to the United States. But the hardy sealing ships from New England ports lost no time in exploiting the fishing grounds to the north and south of New Zealand; and, while the slaughter went on unchecked, Yankee skippers brought many a rich cargo of sealskins to the American market. The almost total annihilation of the herds