Editing Clipper (section)

=== Opium clippers ===
[[File:"Water Witch" opium clipper 1831.jpg|thumb|"Opium clipper" ''Water Witch'', a British barque built in 1831]]Before the early 18th century, the East India Company paid for its tea mainly in silver. When the Chinese emperor chose to embargo European-manufactured commodities and demand payment for all Chinese goods in silver, the price rose, restricting trade. The [[East India Company]] began to produce opium in India, something desired by the Chinese as much as tea was by the British. This had to be smuggled into China on smaller, fast-sailing ships, called "opium clippers".<ref name="MacGregor 1983" />{{rp|9, 34}} Some of these were built specifically for the purpose{{snd}}mostly in India and Britain, such as the 1842-built ''Ariel'', 100 tons OM.<ref name="clark" />{{Page needed|date=May 2024}} Some fruit schooners were bought for this trade, as were some Baltimore clippers.{{r|MacGregor 1988|pp=90–97}}