It would seem therefore as if a primary need of the American people immediately 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 directions they were successful.

One of the products in greatest demand was fish.

The fishing industry had been almost annihilated by the war, but with the establishment of peace the New England fisheries began to recover.

They were in competition with the fishermen of France and England who were aided by large bounties, yet the superior geographical advantages which the American fishermen possessed enabled them to maintain and expand their business, and the rehabilitation of the fishing fleet was an important feature of their programme.

In other directions they were not so successful.