430 The Story of The Bronx 



constructed at a cost of $200,000, not including approaches, 

 which was opened for public use on July 4, 1901. Work had 

 been begun upon it in December, 1898. 



Notwithstanding the ferry and the bridge, City Island had 

 been more or less isolated before the opening of Pelham Bay 

 Park, in 1888, and the advent of the bicycle. The inhabitants 

 were engaged chiefly in fishing, piloting, and oyster culture. 

 The fishing was formerly very fine, and upon a Sunday or 

 other holiday the old bridge was lined with ardent anglers. 

 The demolition of the old wooden bridge has driven many of 

 the anglers to the wharf at the south end of the island, at the 

 end of the island's one long thoroughfare. In 1762, the 

 owners of the island petitioned for four hundred feet under 

 water, and the land was granted to them by Lieutenant- 

 Governor Cadwallader Colden, May 27, 1763. When the 

 new wharf was built at the lower end of the island in 1901, 

 we find Mrs. De Lancey asserting her claims to the land under 

 water as an inheritrix of the ancient grant, but the case was 

 decided against her. The nearest railroad station is at Bartow, 

 about two miles distant from the business activities of the 

 island, so the people have had to depend to a great extent 

 upon water communication. 



There are several yacht clubs located here, and the activities 

 connected with the water constitute the principal business 

 of the island. Several shipyards build and repair pleasure 

 vessels, and in the winter season many of the crack yachts 

 are laid up and housed here. Upon several occasions the 

 defenders of the America's Cup have been so laid up. The 

 yachting industry is principally with sailing vessels ; in stormy 

 weather, many sailing vessels from the Sound find safe anchor- 

 age near the island until the weather moderates. 



There are numerous bathing pavilions, and the bathing is 



