A chilly northeast breeze was no deterrent to the Kids Day Derby on Sunday morning, which drew close to 200 youngsters to the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority wharf. Though the fishing contest proved to be more like a scup festival, it was a 21 1/4-inch striped bass caught by seven-year-old Chelsea Bouchard of Marstons Mills, in the last half-hour of the contest, that won the prize for the biggest fish overall. Unlike most other fishing contests, in the Kids Derby it is the length of the fish and not the weight that is measured.

By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL

The Civil War came perilously close to the Vineyard in 1863 and 1864, when Confederate raiders sank fishing boats and schooners all around the Island.

James B. (Jim) Richardson 3rd of Oak Bluffs, a respected historian, told tales about the raiders in a talk at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum titled The Civil War Comes to New England: Confederate Raiders by Land and Sea.

Well over 1,200 fishermen are registered in the first week of the 66th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. In the first five days of the contest, as much as 2,500 pounds of fish has been weighed in and, as in the past, the contest landings are leaning heavily towards the bluefish.

The Martha’s Vineyard Boy & Girls Club received a pledge of $90,000 from a New Orleans philanthropist last Saturday night as part of a big 90th birthday celebration for Fred B. (Ted) Morgan Jr. The announcement came near the end of festivities at the private party held at the Field Club in Edgartown. Gary Solomon, who made the donation, told the crowd how much regard he had for Mr. Morgan, his family, and the youth club that serves the Island.

Warming waters around Martha’s Vineyard have discouraged what once were abundant fish. Top fisheries scientists with the National Marine Fisheries Service recently released a report citing the dramatic influence changing climate has had on at least one of the fish that used to spend a lot of time in these waters: Atlantic mackerel.

Atlantic mackerel have shifted away from the Vineyard and now are found more east and northeast, according to the report.

This is the week when derby fever strikes. Phil J. Cronin, who has had the fever much of his life, and at 61, he still does. He loves the sport and enjoys sharing his affection with others.

Last winter Mr. Cronin put his love for the annual contest to pen and to music. He wrote a song called The Vineyard Derby Calls. His YouTube performance is featured on the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby website, mvderby.com.

It comes upon September ides

When summer season’s past