Popular among area fisherman, we guess the Striped Bass would rather be the hunter than the hunted. The bass here is seen chasing its favorite snack, the bunker fish.

Despite numerous theories regarding the origin of Coney Island's name, many will tell you that it comes from the Dutch word for the rabbit ("konijn"). When the Dutch settled the area in the 1600's it was already home to a large population of rabbits.

Manmade islands Swinburne Island and Hoffman Island were created in the 1870's to serve as quarantine stations for sick immigrants arriving at Ellis Island. Today they are maintained by the National Park Service and home to hundreds of water birds.

Brooklyn's infamous Gowanus Canal made headlines in 2007 when a baby minke whale became trapped in its polluted waters. "Sludgy the Whale" as she was nicknamed by tabloids, lasted only 2 daysbefore perishing in the muck. (The tabloid's label may have been a play on the popular Carvel ice cream treat, "Fudgy the Whale".)

Nautical flags spell out the names of the creators of the 2010 Mermaid Parade float "The U-Line" ("Tom" and "Hans"). The U-Line is a mythical underwater subway line that travels between islands -- and the inspiration for artist Duke Riley's art card.

Nautical flags spell out the names of the creators of the 2010 Mermaid Parade float "The U-Line" ("Tom" and "Hans"). The U-Line is a mythical underwater subway line that travels between islands -- and the inspiration for artist Duke Riley's art card.

The center subway car is an adaptation of the USS Monitor, the first seagoing Iron Clad submarine. Built in Greenpoint's Bushwick Inlet, she was launched in 1862 and fought her first battle in the Civil War.

The U-Line is an imagined subway line connecting two real locations, Ruffle Bar and Mill Rock. Ruffle Bar, a small island located in Jamaica Bay was once a shellfish breeding ground. Mill Rock, an island between Manhattan and Queens has seen varied uses as mill, farm, fort and park.

Electric eels charge the powerful third rail of the U-Line subway system.

Emilie Neumann Muse achieved fame in the 1920's and 30's through darefevil stunts such as swimming the Hells Gate stretch of the East River, wrestling alligators and being buried alive. Ms. Muse passed away in 2006, at age 98.

Windmills are a reference to the Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam (now New York). The windmills built here nearly 400 years ago can still be found on the City's seal -- now a symbol of the energy that drives New York.