Today large fish are primarily for sale on the commercial market. A fishmonger would arrive from town to purchase the fish and take them to the various urban markets in town. This individual also owns the ice house and the diesel fuel depot in the v… >

Between 1993-1994 I lived and worked in a small Baluch fishing village near Hawkes Bay, Abdur Rehman Goth, just west of Karachi, Pakistan (goth is the Baluchi word for village). My main research goals were to conduct an ethnoarchaeological study of … >

In the fishing village, fish are prepared for drying. The heads and gills are removed and the fish is split up the middle along its belly. Slits are cut into the meat and salt is spread in to help the drying process. With the small catches that are … >

Near-shore fishing requires the use of boats and larger, stronger nets than the inshore fisheries. The Baluchi boats are stylistically different from the Sindhi boats. Abdur Rheman Goth, the Baluch village where I lived, is surrounded by Sindhi vill… >

Medium and large fish are then placed into a brine pit and soak up salty brine before being placed in the sun. The meat is not usually used for human consumption, although it is traded into the interiors of Baluchistan and Sindh Provinces. The small… >

Every morning many boats are hauled down into the water with help from other fishermen waiting to get to their boats. This is an extremely cooperative move by all the fisherfolk within the village. Every evening these boats are hauled back up. This … >

Through the study of butchery and fishing practices, it is possible to reconstruct behaviors that occurred in the past. These cut marks on a sua fish (Protonibea diacanthus) mid-body vertebra are approximately 4,500 years old and originate from the … >

Traditionally, boats used a lateen (triangular) sail. However, now the primarily means of locomotion is the side-mounted motor-propeller system. Trolling operations are time-consuming and the boat is driven back and forth within a relatively confine… >

Fishing and trolling often continues up until sunset. I would like to thank the various fisherfolk in Baluchistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces that have allowed me to intrude in their lives. By inviting me into their homes and allowing me to study th… >

Long gill nets of various sizes and configurations are set in areas along the coast. The type of net and the fishing grounds vary in accordance to season and type of fish that is being caught. Sting-rays are caught with very large-meshed nets in sha… >