HMAP Dataset 19: Estonian Fisheries: Pärnu City Customs Records

Pärnu has, through the centuries, been regarded primarily as a trade port. Alongside Riga and Tallinn, Pärnu traditionally welcomed trade with the Hansa people since 1346. Pärnu's importance in the transit trade between the Hanseatic League and Russia decreased rather rapidly during the 14th century, and by the 15th century, Pärnu had evolved to primarily exporting local products. This tendency continued throughout the Swedish and the Russian reigns. In the second half of the 18th century, Pärnu was one of the three most important ports of Estonia; these ports acted as hubs of foreign trade. However, Tallinn, Pärnu and Narva were greatly overshadowed by the ports of Riga and St. Petersburg. In the 1780s, approximately 100-150 ships annually docked at the Port of Tallinn whilst in Pärnu the corresponding figure was 100, and in Narva, less than 100. In contrast, 1000-1200 vessels docked annually in Riga, and the count in St. Petersburg was between 600 and 700 vessels annually. The navigable River Daugava provided Riga with a vast mercantile hinterland, and St. Petersburg's development was supported by the Russian government. Yet, at the end of the 18th and into the early 19th century, Pärnu became one of Estonia's key ports of export supported primarily by the South Estonia hinterland, but also by Central Estonia and North Latvia.