The blockading squadron brought enough money into the local economy to change civilian incentives. Boat crews could sell food, wine, and washing services so long as the British remained close enough to reach. That gave them reason to question why coastal gunners should fire on ships that were not attacking the town and thereby make every trading voyage longer. The British benefited because the same commerce reduced pressure from shore batteries while easing supply and hygiene problems. Blockade endurance partly depended on local political economy alongside guns and sailing performance.
Notable Point · 1:23:25-1:24:48
Blockade commerce gave civilians reasons to discourage gunfire
Money earned from provisioning and washing British ships gave local civilians an interest in keeping shore batteries from forcing the blockade farther offshore.