"Tugboats of New York" captures the history and lore of these iconic craft - the workhorses of the maritime world - from their precursors in the early 1800s to their heyday in the 1950s, when more than seven hundred small but potent boats dotted the city's harbor. They are the most versatile of vessels, not only guiding large oceangoing ships safely into harbor, but also conducting rescue operations and navigating vast quantities of oil, cement, and scrap iron through traffic-clogged waters. A twenty-year veteran of New York tugboats, George Matteson's illustrated history of tugboating shows how this inherently risky business pits men and their boats against weather, water, and the scarcely measurable physics of ships and barges of far greater dimension. The story of New York's tugs parallels the broader history of New York's industrial development, from the rise of railroads to the decline of the port in the wake of labor disputes and large container ships. It is also a story of remarkable seamen who pass their craft from pilot to apprentice over generations, along with the lore of great waterways that remain unchanged despite the lengthening shadows of skyscrapers and commerce. Rich with first-person anecdotes of life on the New York waterways and one-hundred and fifty breathtaking black-and-white illustrations, "Tugboats of New York" will fascinate readers interested in New York history, boating, and maritime history.