Packet trade

Many states, civilisations and organisations set up mail systems for high value goods, especially confidential correspondence and bullion.

In times of war, regular shipments ran the gauntlet of warships and privateers, and even in peacetime, pirates could be a threat on some routes.

In Britain, the Post Office Packet Service used small, fast, lightly armed ships to carry state papers to overseas destinations on a regular schedule.

During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars the packet ships were targets for privateers and warships seeking prize money.

Eventually, however, commercial steam liners began to work regular international schedules and received contracts from governments to carry mail as well as passengers and high-value cargo.

[citation needed] Starting in the early 19th century, as trade with America became more common, schedule regularity became a priority.

The first seagoing ship built in Van Diemens Land (in 1812) was named the Henrietta Packet by virtue of the fact that she offered a regular passenger service between Hobart, Tasmania and Sydney, New South Wales.

In the second half of the 19th century authorities withdrew from intervening and a lot of steamship companies sprang up, offering much the same services.

Because of the influence of whaling and several local droughts, there was substantial migration from Cape Verde to America, most notably to New Bedford, Massachusetts.