It was a gateway for Azorean orange growing, and the port for the export of wine from Pico Island, as well as an important stop for North American whalers, and later as a refueling port for coal-powered ships during their transatlantic passages.
Det var en passage for dyrkning af appelsiner på Azorerne, og havnen brugtes til eksport af vin fra Pico Ø, samt et vigtigt stop for nordamerikanske hvalfangere, og senere som tankstation for kuldrevne skibe under deres transatlantiske passager.