Before there was an Ellis Island book to sign into, where did pengers sign in?

I was told that there was a book that pengers coming from germany or ireland or where ever signed in at before the Ellis Island book was ever made but I wasn't told where you could find it or what it was called. I'm not looking for where they signed in coming off the mayflower or anything, I don't think they even had one of those. It suppose to be a book they retired right before the Ellis Island book was brought out. If anyone knows could you please help me out. This family tree business is harder than I thought it would be.