History.

"Before the turn of the twentieth century, maritime industries provided the greatest opportunities for Black employment and investment in America. Between the Revolution and the Civil War, more African Americans were employed in the maritime trades than in any other industry. In New England, the representation of Black men on shipboard was proportionally far greater than in the general population. African Americans were represented on the vast majority of the region's vessels as employees, investors or owners."

From a summary of the 1990 book "African Americans in the Maritime Trades, a Guide to Resources in New England."