 In the late eighteenth century it was illegal for Irish ships to trade in the West Indies, so it is quite possible that Smyrna was falsely declared as the ship's destination and Captain Massey sailed to the Caribbean with every intention of trading honestly.In those days the West Indies was notorious for its piracy, and Irishmen are known to have engaged in the practice, both willingly and unwillingly.Whatever the truth of the matter, the ownership of the "Ouzel's" cargo became a matter of dispute.