Mark Alan Lovewell
Visited by increasing numbers of migrating birds and marine mammals, both rare and common, Noman’s Land is increasing in value as a wildlife refuge.
Fewer fishermen and fewer fish — that has been the main theme for the 63rd annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby this year. The fall premiere saltwater fishing contest has been affected this year both by the economy and the state of fish stocks. Participation is down.
The tournament that began in mid-September ends tomorrow night at 10 p.m. with the last weigh-in. As of Wednesday morning there were 2,674 fishermen registered in the contest, significantly down from last year’s 3,042 participants.
By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL
Recreational fishing doesn’t end with the derby. Although tomorrow night brings closure to the 63rd annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, don’t put the fishing rod away. The word is out, there is still plenty of fishing left in this season. The water is still warm and fall migration of big schools of stripers have yet to appear.
With the Red Sox doing so poorly, participants in the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby have plenty more reasons to go out fishing at night, rather than stay at home watching the Sox lose on television.
Last night the weather was ideal for shore fishermen, with the full Hunter’s Moon making a strong showing. I have heard the full moon spooks some fish, but I also have heard from anglers who believe a full moon improves the shore fishing. Last night offered both hours of full moon light and periods of overcast skies.
The state reopened coastal ponds to shellfishing on Saturday, following a closure due to heavy rains which ended early last week. The state Division of Marine Fisheries had issued the closure to more than 30 Massachusetts towns on Sept. 29, based on the expectation that water quality in coastal ponds would diminish after three days of heavy rains.
Shellfish managers were typically concerned that road runoff would fill the ponds with excessive bacteria.
As a nurse, Jean Hagerty Francis has accumulated over 40 years of memories associated with the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She remembers the early years in the 1960s when the hospital was a small but essential part of the Island community. It was a cottage hospital then and is a much bigger place now, with a new $50 million building under construction.
Mrs. Francis, who retired last month, began working at the hospital in 1964 at the age of 21.