The Sea Serpent's maiden voyage,
New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn, began January 11,
1851. She went on to Whampoa, loaded teas, returned west
to New York, and set out again.
She continued this round-the-world
trade with occasional stops at Honolulu until 1859 when
she was sent to Foochow, 30 miles up the Min River, to load
tea for London.
Massey shows her at the famous Pagoda
Anchorage of Foochow; as she and the ships around her air
and dry their sails, they are loaded with tea.
Sea Serpent's time from crossing
the bar of the Min River to London was only 130 days - during
the height of the adverse monsoon. She beat all the clippers
shown at anchor with her.
