The Delaware seashore was a hot bed for pirates for a span of 100 years. The coast acted as a resting point between far off places and the major destinations of Philadelphia and New York. The Cape curves and acts as a border between the rough open seas and the serene bay. During colonial times, pilot boats were sent out to larger ships to help them maneuver the shoals and tricky water passages through Delaware to Philadelphia. Many pirates used this relationship to their advantage, paying larger sums than the British to the pilot boat captains to show them the way. However for some pirates, capture of the pilot boats was the oldest trick in the book and with little government control over these new colonies, the pirates often harassed, plundered and easily overcame the small settlements using this method.  Delaware's marshlands were also a key motivator for pirates as the tall marsh grass and smaller tributaries opened up well-hidden access points for them and their treasures. In some instances, Pirates were attractive to the settlers because they brought goods and trade items that were desired and hard to come by. Trading between the two commenced but was quickly outlawed by the crown. Other instances, pirates were a horrid sight to the settler, completely ravaging all they had.