Indian summer weather greeted the opening of the 1952 seventh annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass Derby, says Ben Morton, chief publicity man for the Island committee, and at the end of the first complete day of weighing-in Malcolm Keniston, manager of the Edgartown Water Company, was bathed in the light of glory. He was Wednesday night, when his picture appeared on television, sharing the spot with a striper which went to 41 pounds 7 ounces.

 

Caught off the beach at the salt works on the North Side of the Island, the committee feels that it is conclusive evidence that the big ones are around and may be taken if one has the know-how.

 

As of last night two more fish had been weighed in than at the comparable time in last year’s derby. The increase in this year’s derby was in the number of striped bass and not in bluefish, which were more in the spotlight at this time last year, according to Mr. Morton. George J. Sylvia arrived last night with eight fish of undetermined weight, and Jerry Sylvester, Joseph Giannottii and Felix Fracasso finished off a day’s work with nine, also with the weight unknown at headquarters at press time.

 

Excitement about a 42-pounder caught from a boat fizzled when it was made known that the striper was caught outside of the derby limits.

 

 

Derby headquarters are set up in the Herald Building on Circuit avenue, Oak Bluffs, and flood lights are ranged directly across the street. Incidentally, to show interest, the committee announces the largest advanced registration of any derby to date. Cars from fourteen different states, carrying fishing rods on top of their cars, were checked on the first day, and each ferry brings in others who are making the Vineyard their mecca during the derby season.

 

Entered are members of the Naragansett Salt Water Fishing Club of Rhode Island, the Merchantville Fishing Club of Merchantville, N.J., and the Sandpiper Club of Brooklyn. The Dr. Frederick Tudor family of Milton has registered husband, wife and four children, the youngest 4 years old, and each child with a cut-down special rod. Rosamond Tudor got a prize the first day with a 3 pound 6 1/2 ounce blue.

 

The very youngest entrant of all however, is Miss Stacie Winslow Hill, aged seven months, and her parents have assured the committee that she will be the bass derby queen one of these days. What equipment Stacie is using has not yet been announced.

 

Off-Islanders getting prizes in the first two days were H. K. Bramhall of Morristown, N.J., who took a 4 pound blue, and Peter Rose of New Rochelle, N.Y., who brought in an 8 pound 2 1/2 ounce striper.

 

 

 

Miss Ann Wilberding of Tisbury was crowned the bass derby queen for 1952 at the striped bass derby dance last Friday night at the Chilmark Tavern.

 

Miss Wilberding, the daughter of Mrs. Gertrude S. Wilberding, is 17 years old and a member of the senior class at Tisbury High school.

 

The judges for the contest at the dance were Al Brickman, Harold Morris and Carlton Staples. Mr. Brickman and Mr. Morris, who are co-chairmen for the derby, presented the new queen with a bouquet of flowers and a silver loving cup during the coronation ceremonies.

 

 

 

Television viewers were pleasantly surprised Wednesday evening to see the familiar faces of several Islanders who were on the air in connection with the Bass Derby publicity put on by the derby committee.

 

Those taking part were Benjamin Morton, secretary of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce; Miss Ann Wilberding, newly chosen derby queen, who was given the title of Queen Ann; and a picture was shown of Malcolm Keniston of Edgartown, with his forty-one pound striped bass, which he caught this week to take the lead in the derby during the first week.