 The new Ranchos and slowly increasing Pueblos mostly only grew enough food to eat and to trade with the occasional trading ship or whaler that put into a California port to trade, get fresh water, replenish their firewood and obtain fresh vegetables.The main products of these ranchos were cattle hides (called California greenbacks) and tallow (rendered fat for making candles and soap) that were traded for other finished goods and merchandise.This hide-and-tallow trade was mainly carried on by Boston-based ships that traveled to around Cape Horn to bring finished goods and merchandise to trade with the Californio Ranchos for their hides and tallow.