around the New York City area, rowed a boat with a friend to the island under cover of darkness, proclaimed it a sovereign nation and hoisted a -long pennant depicting two electric eels from the island's navigation tower. On their return voyage in daylight, they were apprehended by a United States Coast Guard boat but were not arrested. The entire incident was videotaped for a piece Riley titled Belmont Island (SMEACC). References External links Forgotten NY: An Island just for U and ...to the New York Islands NYC Audubon Harbor Herons Project: Harbor Herons Nesting Survey, 2004–2011 reports on cormorant and gull nesting activity at U Thant Island NYCSubway.org: The Steinway Tunnels Artificial islands of New York (state) Belmont family Islands of Manhattan Islands of the East River Sri Chinmoy