<P> Some areas in the colonies were not conducive to the development of agriculture . This was the case in the New England colonies which consisted of the present day New Hampshire , Connecticut , Rhode Island , Vermont , Maine and Massachusetts . These areas have poorly developed soils and are susceptible to poor climatic conditions . Nevertheless , New England did have prime access to the Atlantic Ocean . New England was able to create a thriving fishing industry to increase their shipbuilding market . New England 's ideal placement and the demand that existed for water transport implied that they were involved in the shipping industry as a function of their agricultural impotence , their locations and the development of a fishing industry . </P>
which american colony 's economy was based primarily on shipbuilding and fishing
the New England colonies