Spanish enforcement against British shipping operated within a larger commercial dispute. British merchant captains were often involved in smuggling, and Jenkins is considered a probable participant. Spain lacked enough merchant vessels to meet colonial demand but tried to retain trade and revenue through protectionist restrictions. Enforcement depended on people living in the colonies that needed the goods. Those conflicting incentives made friction persist beyond the individual mutilation incident.
Notable Point · 18:39-19:49
Spanish trade controls left a market for smugglers
Spain's merchant fleet could not fully supply its colonies, while restrictions on foreign trade created opportunities for British smugglers.