Smith’s connection with New England is very slight, and mainly that of an author, one who labored for many years to excite interest in it by his writings.  He named several points, and made a map of such portion of the coast as he saw, which was changed from time to time by other observations.  He had a remarkable eye for topography, as is especially evident by his map of Virginia.  This New England coast is roughly indicated in Venazzani’s Plot Of 1524, and better on Mercator’s of a few years later, and in Ortelius’s “Theatrum Orbis Terarum” of 1570; but in Smith’s map we have for the first time a fair approach to the real contour.

Of Smith’s English predecessors on this coast there is no room here to speak.  Gosnold had described Elizabeth’s Isles, explorations and settlements had been made on the coast of Maine by Popham and Weymouth, but Smith claims the credit of not only drawing the first fair map of the coast, but of giving the name “New England” to what had passed under the general names of Virginia, Canada, Norumbaga, etc.

Smith published his description of New England June 18, 1616, and it is in that we must follow his career.  It is dedicated to the “high, hopeful Charles, Prince of Great Britain,” and is prefaced by an address to the King’s Council for all the plantations, and another to all the adventurers into New England.  The addresses, as usual, call attention to his own merits.  “Little honey [he writes] hath that hive, where there are more drones than bees; and miserable is that land where more are idle than are well employed.  If the endeavors of these vermin be acceptable, I hope mine may be excusable:  though I confess it were more proper for me to be doing what I say than writing what I know.  Had I returned rich I could not have erred; now having only such food as came to my net, I must be taxed.  But, I would my taxers were as ready to adventure their purses as I, purse, life, and all I have; or as diligent to permit the charge, as I know they are vigilant to reap the fruits of my labors.”  The value of the fisheries he had demonstrated by his catch; and he says, looking, as usual, to large results, “but because I speak so much of fishing, if any mistake me for such a devote fisher, as I dream of nought else, they mistake me.  I know a ring of gold from a grain of barley as well as a goldsmith; and nothing is there to be had which fishing doth hinder, but further us to obtain.”

John Smith first appears on the New England coast as a whale fisher.  The only reference to his being in America in Josselyn’s “Chronological Observations of America” is under the wrong year, 1608:  “Capt.  John Smith fished now for whales at Monhiggen.”  He says:  “Our plot there was to take whales, and made tryall of a Myne of gold and copper;” these failing they were to get fish and furs.  Of gold there had been little expectation, and (he goes on) “we found this whale fishing a costly conclusion; we saw many, and spent much time in chasing them;