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Brokers, Secrecy
Voyages were organized by brokers, usually based in northern Atlantic U.S. ports. They communicated in code with specialist cartel agents to acquire ships, refit them, handle international cash flow, find trustworthy Captains and First Mates, etc. Brokers fixed ad hoc problems in port, bribing harbor masters, explaining away modifications to a ship that suggested it was a slaver. Experience taught brokers which officials had to be circumvented by postponing some refitting and resupplying until after a ship left port. When this happened for a Manhattan departure, a cozy Long Island harbor was the obvious next stop.
