For many years the Mission was the focal point of Capistrano Valley. During the 1800's it was active in its religious and agricultural endeavors, maintained large herds of cattle, and developed an industry of hide-curing. The tallow vats and curing pits still exist today. In 1835 the brig Pilgrim sailed into Capistrano Bay to trade hides. One of the sailors on that ship was Richard Henry Dana, who in his book "Two Years Before the Mast" depicted the injustices suffered by the sailors and also gave accounts of the hide trading.