Boston merchants request pasaporte for Anglo-Americano fragata alexander de boston to enter Spanish ports. Ship arrives at San Diego seven months later in February 1803 and is provisioned by Spaniards with water, cattle and salt. On board 492 otter skins pieles de nutria are discovered which are confiscated as contraband (fur trade was forbidden to foreigners). Captain Brown says that two people, perhaps indios gentiles were responsible. Comandante tries to determine how, from where, by whom furs were brought on board and if they were purchased or exchanged for supplies. Information relayed to virrey. Further documents deal with correspondence with fiscal contaduria mayor del real tribunal y Audiencia de Cuentas de Mexico. Letter written to virrey about repairing, preserving and selling skins to public to benefit real hacienda (royal treasury). (J. M. Johnson, November 1986)