A large part of New England's wealth, and of the middle colonies as well, had been due to this trade. It would seem, then, as if a main need of the American people right after the Revolution was to get access to their old markets and to carry the goods as much as possible in their own vessels.
In some areas they were successful. One of the products in greatest demand was fish. The fishing industry had been almost destroyed by the war, but with peace the New England fisheries began to recover. They were in competition with the fishermen of @France and England who were aided by large yields. But American fishermen had one advantage -- geography. Their large coastal area let them maintain and expand their business. In other areas they were not so successful. The British still believed in their colonial system. They used this system without regard to the interests of the United States.
