In January 1813 they received their first prize, a Spanish Brigantine loaded with 77 slaves. Sale of the slaves and additional cargo generated $18,000 in profits and the brothers turned the captured ship into another privateer, named
Dorada. Within weeks,
Dorada captured a schooner loaded with over $9,000 in goods. The captured schooner was not considered a good fit for privateering, so after unloading its cargo the Lafittes gave the ship back to its former captain and crew.
[16] The Lafittes gained a reputation for treating captive crew members well, and often gave the ships back to their original crew.
[17]