From the September 12, 1947 edition of the Vineyard Gazette.

The second annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass Derby opens on Monday, Sept. 15. Of the scores of fishing derbies now being held, or about to open along the Atlantic coast, the Vineyard event is the largest of all, in point of preparation, publicity and prizes.

As the committee members, headed by Judge D. Wiley Travis of Oak Bluffs, complete the final details before announcing the word to go, the prospects bid fair to usher in one of the outstanding events of any sort ever to be staged on Vineyard land or waters.

Six days before the opening, applications had been received from Canada to Florida, and from Massachusetts to North Dakota. It was singularly true, however, that up to that date the bulk of the applications had come from the states of New York and New Jersey.

Singular in view of the fact that there are big fishing derbies in progress much nearer to either of those states than Massachusetts, which leads the committee to believe that a close check on fishing news, the weights of fish landed, and similar facts, have been kept by the rod and reel enthusiasts in those distant places.

It is likewise apparent that some attention has been given to the prize list offered by the Vineyard, a list which totals in value quite $15,000. This is said to be the largest prize list, containing the most valuable individual prizes, ever to be offered in an American fishing derby.

The prize list includes a Steel-craft cabin cruiser, a new Plymouth, a couple of small bass boats with motors, cash prizes ranging from $126 to $500, and scores of lesser prizes, consisting of tackle, reels, rods, and various equipment used by fishermen.

It may be said without exaggeration that the Island is ready for the event. Land-owners have done well their part in opening up ways for the contestants to reach the best beaches for surf and beach fishing. Boatmen have made due preparation for taking parties from the various harbors to recognized grounds where the bass may be expected to lie.

Car owners are likewise prepared with specially equipped vehicles for beach running, and even members of the Island flying club have long since begun their aerial survey of the grounds, spotting and reporting the fish schools in various places, and offering recommendations regarding the size of the various bodies of fish seen. Food, quarters and other accommodations are available, and dealers in tackle are prepared to equip completely any fisherman who may be unprepared, or to supply anything which he might lack through loss or accident.

In addition to this, the Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club will maintain open house during the derby, and a welcoming committee will be present at all times to receive the newcomers and to offer such advice as may be required; likewise to see that each one is supplied with whatever he may need.

Printed directions, rules, maps and instructions are ready to be distributed to all. As a matter of fact, most entrants have already been supplied with these, together with the derby buttons to be worn. In addition, the committee makes one request, and this is important from the viewpoint of those who have labored for a year to make this derby a success.

It is that all fish be reported. There may be reasons why it might not be considered worthwhile to weigh in every fish taken. The size might be such that a fish would not be considered worthy of competition. But it is of vital importance to the committee to know just how many fish are landed by the contestants. Therefore they ask that everyone report their catch as they land them. On the basis of such statistics the plans for next year’s derby can better be laid.

One of the innovations of the derby this year is to be the opening of the Hornblower place at Squibnocket to contestants. Ralph Hornblower, owner of the property, has arranged a system of registration for fishermen, and the marking of the route to the beach. This is explained in a letter written by Mr. Hornblower to Clayton Hoyle, of the derby committee, which is as follows:

I am having prepared a gate to be installed just to the east of the Herring Creek and will also have a box to hold the registration book together with some kind of lantern. I am also having made a small arrow sign with luminous letters saying, “sign here.”

It seems to me that it might be well to have the names and numbers of each registered entry, the time in and the time out, and the registration number of the car together with the state of registration.

There are numerous roadways that look inviting on Squibnocket but actually only two go anywhere near the beach. Several of the others have pre-war bridges through swamp holes now impassable and two have been completely buried by sand dunes. It is definitely unsafe to go through bushes because of the numerous rocks which don’t show up until you hit them.

And so, here’s luck, and may your leaders never kink!

Compiled by Hilary Wallcox

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