Long Island Sound

Several legends surround a low-lying reef at the eastern end of Long Island Sound. Exposed at low water, the reef is not visible during periods of high water. Over the years, early settlers to the area said that local Indians tied their enemies to the rocks at low tide, drowning them when the tide came in. The same story was repeated in later years, only with the British chaining captured colonialists to the rocks during the American Revolution. Of course, the tales have never been substantiated.

Long Island Sound today is primarily the domain of the yachtsman, but for many years it was an extremely important link between New York City and the ports of New England. It offered a considerable stretch of relatively sheltered water from Block Island to New York. Sailing vessels could avoid the perils of the Atlantic Ocean for this segment of the trip from Boston and other northeastern cities.