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For many decades before settlements , it was known about the plentiful fishing grounds near New England. In 1602, English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold gave the name Cape Cod to the peninsula in Massachusetts because of the large quantity of cod that his crew caught.
Fisherman from a number of European countries came to the waters off of New England. Some lived on islands off of the coast of New England. Fish were typically caught and either dried or heavily salted to preserve them for the voyage back to Europe to be sold.
Fisherman used a boat called a shallop. A shallop typically had a mast with two sails and also oars. It was about 30 feet long, 8 feet wide and could carry 15 men. They were a workboat for coastal waters and drew less than 2 feet of water. They could carry heavy cargoes in shallow water.
A bark (also barc or barque) was a more robust ship. A bark typically had three or more masts with more sails and could carry cargo on long voyages. They ranged in size from 70 feet in length and 10 feet wide to 160 feet in length. The average they could carry was 250 tons but the larger ones could carry 500 tons.
• Metal tools and utensils: Highly sought-after iron tools dramatically improved Native Americans' efficiency in daily tasks and hunting. Items included knives, axes, awls, kettles, and cooking pots.
• Cloth and textiles: Woven wool, linen, and cotton fabrics, which dried faster and were lighter than animal hides, were very popular. Wool blankets, often marked to indicate their worth in beaver pelts, were a particularly prized trade item.
• Weapons and ammunition: Native Americans traded for firearms, gunpowder, and shot. Muskets were often customized with longer barrels and traded for a stack of beaver pelts equal to the gun's height.
• Decorative items: European glass beads, metal bells, rings, and other ornaments were incorporated into Native American crafts and clothing. Alcohol: Liquor, particularly rum, was also traded and had a devastating effect on Native communities.
• Furs and animal pelts: The European market created a huge demand for furs, especially beaver pelts for making fashionable felt hats. Other furs included otter, bear, deer, fox, and muskrat.
• Food and resources: Native Americans provided Europeans with food, fresh water, and other supplies needed to survive in the unfamiliar environment. Coastal tribes exchanged fish and other resources with inland tribes as well.
• Local knowledge: Native peoples shared their extensive knowledge of the land, hunting, and agricultural methods, which was vital for the survival of early colonists. For example, the Wampanoag taught the Plymouth colonists how to cultivate the land and grow corn.