Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Fish supper fit for dons: the Porterhouse shark

Michael McCarthy,Environment Editor
Wednesday 27 November 2002 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Oxbridge gastronomy tends to be rarefied, and the dons of Porterhouse College, Cambridge, fans of Tom Sharpe will remember, feasted on swan stuffed with wigeon, followed by beefsteak from an ox roasted whole in the great fireplace of the college hall. But even they didn't run to a giant thresher shark.

This week, however, thresher shark is indeed likely to appear on real high tables in Oxford, because a quarter-ton example of the species will be fetching up this morning on the slab of an Oxford fishmonger. The fish, 14ft long and weighing 520lb, will fill most of the window of Hayman's in Oxford's covered market and will be divided into about 1,000 steaks and fillets. "I think chefs of the Oxford colleges will buy most of them," said the manager, Ray Lindsey, who supplies many of the colleges on a regular basis. The shark was caught in the nets of the Emma May a trawler off Cornwall, this week, and was so big it had to be lashed to the side of the boat to carry it back.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in