According to the sample on the average there are five fishermen per boat. Thus at a time
there are around 64 fishermen fishing in the sea near Astola. Every boat has a Nakhuda
(also referred to as Nakho, person incharge of the boat), a boat operator, a cook and Khalasi
(fishermen). Boat owners may give their boat to fishermen for fishing and hire a Nakho or he
may himself work as a Nakho on the boat. In small boats Nakhuda/Nakhu also works as a
boat operator.
The total fish catch and the net income is distributed between boat owner, Nakho, Boat
Operator, Cook and Khalasi. The system of division of net income is known as Patti System
where one share is known as a Patti. Half of the net income (Gross Income – Expenses =
Net Income) is given to the boat owner. The rest of the net income is divided amongst the
other fishermen through Patti system. The share given to each is given in Table 5 below.