If that ancient worthy, Thomas Pell, Esq., the original owner of this spot, had been informed by some prophetic revelation, that, in the year 1885, the city of New York would conclude to take possession of the whole of that part of Pelham " lying and being upon the waters of Long Island Sound," for a city park, proposing to issue bonds, run in debt and tax the inhabitants of both town and county to pay for the same, it may be safely presumed that he would have been an unbelieving Thomas. Yet it is well known, not only that such a plan has been devised, and that a bill for its accomplishment has passed the Legislature of the State of New York, but that there is a strong probability that the entire sea-front of Pelham will, in a few years, be within the corporate limits of the city.^

The Pelham Bridge, over the mouth of East Chester Creek, has long been famous for the size and quality of the fish taken in and around the waters of the bay and river. The fishing, it is true, is not now what it used to be, either there or in other parts of the Sound, having declined from causes which may be known to those who have made themselves familiar with the subject. Still, within the past twenty years, bass of large size and weighing from fifty to sixty pounds, have been taken with the hook in this vicinity. Black fish are still numerous around the rocks and reefs along the shore. But old fishermen are unanimous in the assertion that there has been a steady falling ott in both the number and size of the fi.sh taken during the period of time mentioned above.''