In 1847, some of the captured slavers had dimensions like these: The "Felicidade" 67 tons; the "Maria" 30 tons; the "Rio Bango" 10 tons.

When the trade was legal and regulated by law, the "Maria" would have been permitted to carry 45 slaves--or one and one-half to each ton register.

In 1847, the trade being outlawed, no regulations were observed, and this wretched little craft imprisoned 237 negroes.

But even this 10-ton slaver was not the limit.

Mr.Spears finds that open rowboats, no more than 24 feet long by 7 wide, landed as many as 35 children in Brazil out of say 50 with which the voyage began.