PART of a mystery over a monster fish has been solved – we now know what it was.
This huge catch was a halibut – and you don’t see them this size anymore.
Former chef and restaurant owner Garry Birley, 64, of Lepton, used to run the Princess Restaurant in Huddersfield town centre and then Birkby Lodge for 14 years until he retired nine years ago.
But when he first left catering college in 1964 he worked at the former Three Owls pub and restaurant in Kirkburton from 1964 to 1970.
He said: “Halibut was a big seller at the Three Owls and we used to order it in frozen from William Bennett fishmongers in Sheffield.
“They usually weighed 30lbs to 40lbs, but you just don’t see them like that any more.
“The cost would be horrendous for one thing as halibut now costs more than fillet steak.’’
The halibut featured in the photograph was 9ft long, 4ft 6ins wide and weighed in at a whopping 476lbs.
Rico Simioli gave even more details about halibuts.
He said: Halibut (hippoglossus hippoglossus) is a flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae.
The halibut is among the largest teleost ( bony ) fish in the world.’’
The photograph was published in last week’s family history page with a plea from its owner for more information.
Julian Williams, of Edgerton, recently bought this photograph as a glass plate negative and is keen to discover the whole tale behind it.
The name G Mell is in the background and it may be the monster fish was pictured at Huddersfield Market.
But what date was it? The flat caps and clothes suggest possibly the 1920s?
And does anyone know any of the people on the picture?
Julian said: “Does anyone know any of the gentlemen in the picture?’’
Anyone who can help can email the information to features@examiner.co.uk or phone 01484 437761.
