Definition of departure (see codebook)
1 = Invoice date at departure
2 = Date of sailing
3 = Departure from Downs
4 = Cleared from Custom House
10 = Date bond given
11 = Date given in charter, insurance contract
12 = Date of hiring
13 = Date of protection agst impress
14 = Date Pass issued
15 = Date of vessel registration
16 = Date of sailing orders
17 = Date of last crew entry

Old World places of call after embarking slaves (see codebook)
1 = Corisco and Princes Island
2 = São Tome
3 = Princes Island
4 = Bourbon
5 = Casamance
10 = Cape of Good Hope
11 = Annobon
15 = Fernando Po and Cameroons
20 = Ascension, Assomption
30 = Princes Island and Cape Lopez
40 = Princes Island and São Tome
50 = São Tome and Annobon
53 = Cape Verde Island
60 = Juda, Epee, Princes Island, and Annobon
70 = Ile Ste Catherine
72 = Ile de France
80 = São Tome and Cape Lopez
81 = Princes Island and Annobon
90 = Juda and Princes I
93 = Cape Coast Castle
94 = St Helena
95 = Cape Lopez
97 = Epee and Princes I
98 = Fernando Po and Princes I

Outcome of voyage (see codebook)
2 = Shipwrecked or destroyed, before slaves embarked
3 = Shipwrecked or destroyed, after embarkation of slaves or dur
4 = Shipwrecked or destroyed, after disembarkation
6 = Captured by pirates or privateers - before slaves embarked
7 = Captured by pirates or privateers - after embarkation of sla
8 = Captured by pirates or privateers - after disembarkation
9 = Captured by pirates or privateers - unspecified
10 = Captured by British - before slaves embarked
11 = Captured by British - after embarkation of slaves
12 = Captured by British - after disembarkation
14 = Captured by Spanish - before slaves embarked
15 = Captured by Spanish - after embarkation of slaves
16 = Captured by Spanish - after disembarkation
18 = Captured by Dutch - before slaves embarked
19 = Captured by Dutch - after embarkation of slaves
20 = Captured by Dutch - after disembarkation
22 = Captured by Portuguese - before slaves embarked
23 = Captured by Portuguese - after embarkation of slaves
24 = Captured by Portuguese - Americas after disembarkation
29 = Condemned - Americas after disembarkation
45 = Captured unspecified before slaves embarked
46 = Captured unspecified after embarkation of slaves
47 = Captured unspecified after slaves disembarked
48 = Captured by pirates - slaves sold in Americas from another s
49 = Sold slaves in Americas - subsequent fate unknown
50 = Captured by the French - before slaves embarked
51 = Captured by the French - after embarkation of slaves
52 = Captured by the French - after slaves disembarked
54 = Condemned in the Americas by British after slaves disembarke
56 = Captured by slaves: ship did not reach the Americas
58 = Condemned in the Americas by British before slaves disembark
59 = Bought at least one slave in Africa - subsequent fate unknow
66 = Destroyed, lost or sold as result of slave rebellion
67 = Taken, retaken and salvaged before reaching African trade si
68 = Sold in the Americas after disembarking slaves
69 = Cut off by Africans from shore, ship did not reach the Ameri
70 = Sold in the Americas - not known whether ship brought slaves
71 = Captured before disembarking slaves; vessel recaptured or
72 = Driven off the African Coast with slaves on board
74 = Captured by crew, did not land slaves in the Americas
75 = Lost before Americas: slaves reached port in other ships
76 = Some slaves removed by pirates/privateers
77 = Arrived in Africa, subsequent fate unknown
78 = Captured and recaptured after disembarking slaves
79 = Crew mutiny; slaves landed in the Americas
80 = Cut off by Africans from shore. Recaptured and landed slaves
81 = Captured by slaves, recaptured and landed slaves in the Amer
82 = Captured by slaves, recaptured and landed slaves in the Amer
91 = Condemned in Africa with slaves, slaves transhipped/sold
92 = Returned direct to Africa after bringing slaves to the Ameri
93 = Returned to Europe or Americas without obtaining slaves
94 = Laid up (disarmed) or broken up in Africa
95 = Laid up (disarmed) or broken up in the Americas
97 = Abandoned or condemned for unseaworthiness in the Americas
103 = Vice-Admiralty Court, St. Helena, restored
104 = Vice-Admiralty Court, British Guiana, condemned
105 = Vice-Admiralty Court, British Guiana, restored
106 = Vice-Admiralty Court, Cape of Good Hope, condemned
107 = Vice-Admiralty Court, Cape of Good Hope, restored
110 = Vice-Admiralty Court, Sierra Leone, condemned
111 = Vice-Admiralty Court, Sierra Leone, restored
120 = Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, condemned
121 = Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, restored
122 = Court of Mixed Commission, Havana, condemned
123 = Court of Mixed Commission, Havana, restored
124 = Court of Mixed Commission, Rio de Janeiro, condemned
125 = Court of Mixed Commission, Rio de Janeiro, restored
126 = Court of Mixed Commission, Loanda, condemned
127 = Court of Mixed Commission, Loanda, restored
128 = Court of Mixed Commission, Cape of Good Hope, condemned
129 = Court of Mixed Commission, Cape of Good Hope, restored
141 = Given up to the United States government
142 = Arrested by Brazil or given up to the Brazilian government
144 = Vice Admiralty Court, Dominica, condemned
153 = Captured and released without court proceedings
154 = Driven or run on shore in the Americas: no court proceedings
155 = Given up to the Mexican Government, Vera Cruz
156 = Taken to Genoa and given up to Sardinian authorities
157 = Abandoned in Europe after completing voyage
160 = Captured by United States before slaves embarked
162 = Captured by United States after slaves disembarked
163 = Captured by United States, slave presence unspecified
164 = French proceedings initiated in Africa, acquittal
165 = French proceedings initiated in Africa, condemned
166 = French proceedings initiated in Africa, unknown outcome
170 = French proceedings, initiated in unknown location, acquittal
171 = 171 French proceedings, initiated in unknown location, conde
172 = French proceedings, initiated in unknown location, unknown
173 = French proceedings initiated in Guadaloupe, acquittal
174 = French proceedings initiated in Guadaloupe, condemned
175 = French proceedings initiated in Guadaloupe, unknown outcome
176 = French proceedings initiated in Martinique, acquittal
177 = French proceedings initiated in Martinique, condemned
178 = French proceedings initiated in Martinique, unknown outcome
179 = French proceedings initiated in Cayenne, acquittal
180 = French proceedings initiated in Cayenne, condemned
181 = French proceedings initiated in Cayenne, unknown outcome
182 = French proceedings initiated in France, acquittal
183 = French proceedings initiated in France, condemned
184 = French proceedings initiated in France, unknown outcome
185 = Detained and condemned in the United States after slaves dis

Definition of ton used in tonnage
1 = Portuguese
2 = Brazilian
3 = Spanish
4 = French
5 = U.S.A.
6 = Uruguayan
7 = Dutch
8 = Hanse Towns, Brandenburg
9 = Argentinian
10 = Swedish
12 = Danish
13 = English 1
14 = English 2
15 = English 3
16 = Chilean
17 = English 4
18 = Sardinian
19 = Norwegian
20 = Mexican
21 = English RAC
22 = English pre-1775

Imputed number of slaves embarked
1 = Slave Insurrection
2 = Vessele attacked from shore
3 = Vessel's boats attacked from shore
4 = Meaning of "cut-off" unclear. Could be "1" or "2" above

1 = years 1527-1600
2 = years 1601-1700
3 = years 1701-1800
4 = years 1801-1867

1 = years 1526-1550
2 = years 1551-1575
3 = years 1562-1600
4 = years 1601-25
5 = years 1626-50
6 = years 1651-75
7 = years 1676-1700
8 = years 1701-25
9 = years 1726-50
10 = years 1751-75
11 = years 1776-1800
12 = years 1801-25
13 = years 1826-50
14 = years 1851-75

1 = Senegambia
2 = Sierra Leone
3 = Gold Coast
4 = Bight of Benin
5 = Bight of Biafra
6 = West-central Africa
7 = Windward Coast
8 = South-east Africa
9 = Unknown

1 = Slaves disembarked Americas
2 = No slaves embarked
3 = Slaves disembarked in Africa, Europe
4 = Slaves perished with ship
5 = Slaves embarked, no further record
6 = No information on slaves

1 = Natural hazard
2 = Pirate-privateer action
3 = British captor
4 = Spanish captor
5 = Dutch captor
6 = Portuguese captor
7 = Fleming captor
8 = French captor
9 = US captor
10 = African captor
11 = Crew action
12 = Brazil captor
13 = Captor unspecified
14 = Successful voyage
15 = Unknown

1 = Delivered slaves for original owners
2 = Original goal thwarted (natural hazard)
3 = Original goal thwarted (human agency)
4 = Unknown outcome

1 = Europe
2 = North America
3 = Caribbean
4 = Other Americas
5 = Brazil
6 = Africa

Broad regions of disembarkation
1 = Europe
2 = US
3 = Caribbean
4 = Other Americas
5 = Brazil
6 = Africa