Blood Worm

Blood Worm

Glycera spp
Nereis spp.(shown)

Size: to 15", generally much smaller

Worms like this can be found anywhere from tidal flats to deep depths, burrowed in the sediment or hiding in crevices.

These segmented worms have four sharp teeth and can give you a good bite if you're not careful. They can also swim, although not very well. The "legs" are called parapodia and are actually gills. The best place to see a blood worm is at the bait shop. Also known as Clam Worms.

Blood Worm
Head and jaws ( extended )

Type:
artificial reef, freighter, purse seiner
Built:
1944, JK Welding - Yonkers NY, as FS-355 (US Army)
Specs:
( 166 x 32 ft ) 542 tons
Sunk:
Thursday, Jan 21, 2021 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:
38°31.340' -74°30.671'
Depth:
125 ft

John S Dempster Jr. is sister to Shearwater and Reedville, see those vessels for details, links in the sidebar. All three vessels were originally small Army transports, converted to Menhaden fishing by Omega Protein company. FS-355 was USCG-manned, and retained by USA as PVT Carl V. Sheridan (see below) until sold in 1972.

The aging Shearwater and Reedville were retired when Omega got two new modern vessels in 2017, but Dempster was kept as a reserve. Finally, almost 80 years old, the Dempster was sent to her reward as well. Another sister, Tangier Island, was reefed off Georgia in 2020. As of 2023, one old sister remains - Smuggler's Point, FS-400, launched in 1944!

Printed from njscuba.net