No matter where in the world pirates came ashore, they always left their mark, whether it be from a night of drunken debauchery or plunderous murder. Pirate havens were notorious for their wild atmospheres and outrageous over-the-top scoundrels. Ports that welcomed these raucous rogues with open arms did so out of self-preservation. Pirates were good for a town's economy and could be used as a formidable defense if the need arose. But how much truth is in the reports about pirates and their antics and exploits? Are the creative distortions of literature, film, oral history, and hearsay ultimately responsible for the overblown image one has of pirates? Pirate havens were a breeding ground, one that has done much to exaggerate the legendary stereotypical rogue, and that stereotype bears closer examination.