We do not know exactly what Chasseur took to Canton because no record was kept of her cargo. However we do know what other ships from the early 19th century often took with them in their trading ventures. For instance, ships from Chesapeake Bay often took tobacco, and barrel staves which were products grown or made in the region. The Chinese were also very interested in American grown ginseng, a plant they called "the dose for immortality." (We now import ginseng from China). Products that vessels from New England took included West Indies molasses, sugar, rum, and salted cod fish. Another product in high demand in China was gold coins (called specie) -the Chinese used the gold to purchase products from other countries.

Most vessels sailed east to China. The crossed the Atlantic Ocean and went around the bottom of Africa and then across the Indian Ocean. Some, however, sailed south and went around the tip of South America, then up the coast of South and North America before crossing the Pacific Ocean. Traders who used this route often stopped in Venezuela to pick up gold to trade in China, or they went up the coast to what is now Washington State and Canada to buy another Chinese favorite, beaver skins. On their way across the Pacific, they would search out in the Islands the Chinese' most favorite item - birds' nests (used to make birds' nest soup).