In the early 20th century cotton crops were devastated by the boll weevil (this was before synthtic fibers).
The boll weevil came to the U. S. after the time of this episode but that's the point. They're being smuggled in through San Francisco by people with an interest in drstroying American cotton to bolster crops grown abroad.
It's probably too subtle a point for viewers today, who don't know (or care) about history and no grounding in economics. However, the damsel in distress is Dawn Wells, Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island" and that makes this esoteric episode worth watching.
Wells is every bit as lovely as she is on the island, but here she delivers her lines fast. She takes her time on the island but she might have been directed in this role to go fast in the interest of time. Unfortunately, she has precious little to do.
She joins Alan Hale, Jr. And Jim Backus as island alumni who appeared on "The Wild Wild West," though the men came later.