Ottens Harbor is a man-made canal, which Otten developed in 1906, in order to sell waterfront parcels of real estate. It did not include the rights to the water beyond the bulkheads, as that was public paid for and came under the jurisdiction of the town. So how is it all these waterfront properties get a free ride? Some event rents boat slips to the tune of $12,000 a year and that money is untaxed, unregulated income, a gift if you will, at the expense of the taxpayer.