This maritime fur trade was an important factor in the early history of the Pacific Northwest and the westward expansion of the United States and Canada.
While there, the crews of the ships enjoyed unexpected success in selling for high prices the sea otter pelts they had obtained for trinkets on the North West Coast of America.
When it is remembered that the furs were at first collected without our having any idea of their real value, the first two Otter skins we had having been bought for six green glass beads, the greatest part of them having been worn by the Indians, from whom we purchased them; that they were afterwards preserved with little care, and frequently used for bed-clothes, and other purposes, during our cruise to the North; and that, probably we never received the full value for them in China; the advantages that might be derived from a voyage to that part of the American coast, undertaken with commercial views, appear to me of a degree of importance sufficient to call for the attention of the public....
The Chinese market at Kiachta purchases them at more than double that price, and sells them again at Pekin at a great advance, where a further profitable trade is made with some of them to Japan.
Specifically, Cox and his associates, including Henry Lane, William Fitzhugh and David Lance—English East India Company supercargoes at Macau trading privately on their own account—sponsored a pioneering voyage under James Hanna in 1785.
[6] Setting out from Macau in the brig Sea Otter, on 15 April 1785, Hanna followed the route of the Manila galleons past Japan from where the prevailing winds and current brought him to Nootka Sound on 8 August.
Although there was one violent altercation in which a number of native Nuu-chah-nulth lost their lives, Hanna was successful in trading for furs and returned to Macau with 560 pelts worth 20,400 Spanish dollars.
of furs.—The beauty of these furs is beyond description, and held by the Chinese in the highest estimation: it is astonishing with what rapidity they purchased them.—Captain Hannah acquainted me that there were several sent home to England as presents; your friend Sir Joseph Banks hath two of them sent by this ship, where no doubt you will see them.—It is astonishing that this business hath not been taken up long before this directly from England, as there is a full description of it in the publication you sent me of Capt.
Clayoquot Sound was the home of the powerful chief Wickaninnish, who was one of the dominant figures in the maritime fur trade at the end of the 18th century.
But his success in trading for pelts was limited, and shortly after his return to Macau in early 1787 he died before he was able to make a planned third voyage to America.