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Updated 7/15/02, Click Here! |
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FISHING REPORT
FROM
KATHY BAKER at BILL'S SPORT SHOP
It was just a few days after the sinking of the Jacob Jones and a week before the sinking of the Hvosloff that found the Gypsum Prince traveling north toward the mouth of the Delaware Bay, running with her lights out as were all of the other merchant ships in the area. News of the German submarines in the area struck fear into the hearts of the merchant marine fleet , and rightfully so, because by the end of the second world war, 141 ships would be sunk on our east coast.
The 3,915 ton British Freighter Gypsum Prince was sunk just 1.1 miles off of the Cape Henlopen point on March 4, 1942. She was headed toward the port of Philadelphia with a full load of Gypsum when at 6:40 AM , while visibility was still bad, Lights out and radio silent she collided with the tanker Voco which was on an outward bound course.
Exerpts from the New York Times quote Captain Robert W. Blair of Kendall, England, master of the Voco, that he first sighted the Gypsum Prince when she was about two miles distant and that he sounded a passing signal, which was not acknowledged by the other vessel until she was about a half mile away. Captain Blair sensed an imminent collision and ordered full speed astern , but the ships collided anyway.
Six of the crew of the Gypsum Prince, including a father and son, both of Nova Scotia were rescued from the top of a capsized life boat. The father said that he and the chief steward, had seen Captain Jones strugglng in the water. The sea was too rough and he slipped away from us as we tried to pull him onto the boat. At that time there was no knowledge of Hypothermia, They just thought that people drowned.
Captain Jones body floated ashore later in the morning as did those of Harry Wood, chief cook, and Jake Kilcup, ordinary seaman. Three others were missing and presumably lost. In all six crewmen and the Captain were lost. There were no casualties aboard the Voco which went back and achored in the Delaware bay with a big hole in the starboard bow.
The Gypsum Prince is now one of our most popular Tau Tog wrecks since it's only 3-1/2 miles from the Roosevelt inlet. In season you will find a variety of fish including Trout, Sea Bass, Trigger Fish, Sheepshead , Porgie, Sharks and Blue fish. Length is 347' by 52' and it lays in only 23' of water.
GPS: 38 48 12.60 075 03 35.40
Loran 27146.2 42641.5
Beleive it or not, but the stripers are still here. Sam Caltagirone weighed in two nice ones, one slot and one 32-3/4 incher caught on a bucktail at the Indian River Inlet.Dan Hellams reported five stripers 18 to 28 inches caught on Fin-S jigs at Massey's ditch.
Remember the Flea Market! April 6th. Free spots for your table, arrive early because most everybody was sold out by 10:00AM last year. Only your own stuff no dealers please. Also , check out the links to our local charter fleet on our home page, now is the time to book your trip for this season.
Home page address is www.billsportshop.com and if you are comparing prices you will find us to be the best on the web and we can ship within 7 days.
Our e-mail has been changed to billsss@rcn.com
Next week the story of the Washingtonian
SHO
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