Shipbuilding from its beginnings. Vol. 1 (of 3)

The Garnalenschuit (a boat used for shrimp fishing) resembles somewhat the original “Bom” and its resemblance to the old “Egmonder Pink” is most striking.

THE “SCHOLSCHUIT” OR “BAZAANSCHUIT”—THE ZWARTEWAALSCHE GAFFELAAR.

There was met with formerly, alongside of the “bushes” and “howkers”, a fishing boat belonging to the “smack” group: the Scholschuiten (boats used for the sole fishery) also called Bazaanschuit. At Zwartewaal, these vessels carried gaff sails (gaffeltuig) whence their name of Zwarlewaalsche Gaffelaar.

The Scholschuiten were shorter than the “howkers”; but fairly broad and with a strong frame. They resembled greatly the “Visscherssnikken” of Paessens and Wierum (not to be confused with the “Binnensnikken”) and the “Palingschuiten” of Heeg and Gastneer which used to carry eels to London.

The “Scholschuit”, met with at Pernis, Middelharnis and Zwartewaal, was replaced later by the “sloop”.

The whale fishery, formerly so flourishing, had disappeared completely in the XIXth century. There were 186 boats still following this industry in 1756; but this number had fallen to 66 in 1785, this change being brought about especially by the large premiums granted by England.

As this industry gradually died away in our country, it became more flourishing, on the contrary, in England. In this latter country, only 26 whaling vessels were to be found in 1750; this number increased to 152 in 1785. Premiums of 3000 to 8000 florins, given in that country according to the size of the vessels brought about the result of causing our whaling ships to disappear and only two vessels put out to sea in 1854. (KOENEN, p. 164).

“Noortsvaerders” as well as the “Fluitschepen” already described, were used for this fishery.

The land of the “bushes” was at Vlaardingen and Enkhuizen; a few are found also at Maassluis and Delfshaven, that is: along the Meuse and in the North-West part of the Zuiderzee.

The country of the “Bom” was Scheveningen, Katwijk and Noordwijk, along the flat beach of the North Sea.

That of the “sloop” is Middelharnis, Zwartewaal and Pernis, while the “lugger” is met everywhere.

The old “howker” was found particularly at Maassluis and the “Loggerbom” or “Lelybom” at Scheveningen.

An erroneous idea of the Netherlands fishing fleet would be formed by supposing that only the 724 fishing vessels given in the above list belonged to it. Alongside of these boats, are still found many smaller boats used exclusively for this industry.

If a glance be cast over the Report on the Netherlands Ocean Fishery for 1905, it will be seen that, in this year (p. 342), the fleet contained in all 5334 vessels with a total tonnage of 234,766 tons and a total of 20,141 men in the crews. These figures for 1891 were, respectively: 4427, 164,357 and 15,482.

The small fishing boats work on the North Sea, along the shores of Friesland and Groningen, on the maritime rivers of Zeeland and of the province of Holland as well as on the Zuiderzee.

All sorts of names of fishing boats are found among them, so that it is very difficult to determine from this point the places whence they come. Then too, these boats have become so numerous in our country during the last fifty years, that the presence of a given type at any place is no proof at all that it had its origin at that place. Thus, for example, “Schokkers” and “Botters” are now to be found on the Upper Meuse where not one of them was ever built. Just so soon as fishing becomes flourishing, there are brought into use all sorts of boats which were never intended originally for any such purpose. In order to form an exact idea of fishing boats and their evolution, only such vessels as were built especially for this use should be considered.

As was said in the general classification, these boats can be divided into principal orders as follows: a) the group of the “Schokkers”; b) that of the “Botters”; c) bluff bowed boats (“Knots”, “Akes”, etc).

THE “SCHOKKER”.

This boat has a long, fine bow; the stern, on the other hand, is narrow. The hull above the bends falls in sharply. The stem is straight and very much inclined. At the square upper end of the stem is a sheave, one side of which rests on the stem and the other side on a bracket (the “snoes”) which is made firm to the stem. The boat carries a fish tank and has near the bow a cuddy which serves as a lodging. Although the “Schokkers” were originally open at the middle, some are to be found at the present time of larger size and closed. The “Schokker” has at the bow a small deck, called “kootje”.

The “Schokker” carries lee boards and a mast placed at four fifths of the length of the vessel, at the position of the main frame. It is 26.10 m. long, 4.48 m. beam and draws 0.98 m. It is fore and aft rigged (“bazaantuig”) with a short, curved boom and a large fore staysail which is attached to the side abaft the mast, consequently without any travelling bar. This latter is sometimes to be found, however, in these latter times. A jib may be set on the bowsprit. The hull was clinker built formerly, now it is frequently carvel built. It is a very old type of vessel, but the large models only date; however, from the XIXth century. Neither WITSEN nor VAN YK speaks of them, although they were already in existence in their time, for drawings of them appear on the stretchers of the reformed church at Workum which dates from about 1600.

The “Schokker” comes originally from the Zuyderzee and especially from the shores of Overijssel (Vollenhoven), of Schokland (probably of Urk also) and of Enkhuizen.

According to common report, the island of Schokland is said to have obtained its name from that of the “Schokkers”.

Its straight, inclined stem separates this boat from the type of the other fishing vessels of the Zuyderzee, with the exception of the “Haringschuit”.

THE “HARINGSCHUIT”.

The Haringschuit (boat used in the herring fishery) may be considered a large “Punter” or a small “Schokker” with less freeboard.

Hence there is no doubt that the old “Schokker”, the “Haringschuit” and the “Punter” belong to the same family. The “Schokker” is distinguished from the others by its higher and more bluff bow, given to it by reason of the more distant trips on the Zuyderzee and the North Sea for which it was intended.

THE “PUNTER” AND THE “GONDEL”.

The Punter is met with in the North of Overijssel as an inland boat. When of large size, it is used as a fishing boat.

The “Haringschuit” is also met with along the shores of Gelderland, but on the coasts of North Holland is frequently found a small boat, the “Vischschuit van Aalsmeer” (fishing boat from Aalsmeer) which resembles the “Punter” and sails alongside of the Snik or the Gondel (the old cog) of more massive form, just as solid “Schokkers” are found elsewhere alongside of the “Punter”.

The “Gondel”, which carries a fish tank, is used however as an inland craft, on the lakes; it ventures very rarely out to sea. All the same, the stem which has a slight rake rises quite high.

The same characteristics appear in the “Wierschuitje” of Wieringen where the “Haringschuit” is also met with.

THE “HOOGAARS”.

The same type is seen in the old “Kinderdijksche Hoogaars” of South Holland, in the “Steegschuit” of the Biesbosch and in the “Steegschuit” and “Hoogaars” of Zeeland, while the “Hengst” and “Veerhengst”, met with in the same neighbourhoods, are also “Hoogaars” which have undergone slight changes. There is also the “Tholensche Schouw” which is just like the “Beyerlandsche Schuitje” used among the islands of South Holland. Both these latter vessels have a high, broad bow; they have no stem, the planking ending on the apron. Hence they are “Akes”.

The Hoogaars has, therefore, a straight stem with a slight rake, which is much smaller than that of the “Schokker”. The sides which were formerly clinker built are now carvel built. The bow is rather finer than that of the “Schokker”, the stern is rather fuller. The bow is covered while the waist is open and there is a raised deckhouse astern. The “Hoogaarsen” carry a narrow rudder and a lee board on either side; they are fore and aft rigged and show a fore staysail and jib. This vessel is flat-bottomed, like the “schokkers” and other boats already mentioned, but it has no fish tank. The new “Hoogaarsen” of large size have a fuller stern, after the manner of the “Boeiers”, and this gave rise in the second half of the XIXth century to the “Hoogaars-Boeier” type. The tendency to make the stern fuller is found now in all fishing vessels and this is causing the characteristic differences between the various types to disappear.

The ordinary “Hoogaars” is 15 metres long and 4.50 m. beam.

The “Hoogaars” of Arnemuide is somewhat smaller, entirely open, has a small raised deckhouse in the stern and is rigged with spritsails.

THE “STEEKSCHUIT”.

The Steekschuit, constructed like a “Hoogaars”, is rather heavier in build and the bow falls in less. The sternpost is rounded at the upper end.

THE “HENGST”.

The “Hengst” differs very little from the “Hoogaars”. It is used a great deal on the “Hollandsche Diep” (Willemstad.)

All the types before described carry long narrow lee boards, with the exception of the “Tolensche Schouw” and the “Kinderijksche Hoogaars” of which the lee boards are wider. Fishing for oysters and mussels now employ a great many “Boeieraakjes”.

THE “BOTTER”.

Instead of types with a straight stem, there are types now to be found, to the West of the Zuiderzee and the island of Urk, which have a curved stem. They bear a large number of names by reason of slight differences among themselves, but they all belong to the same family, that of the Botters, of which the old “Tochtschuiten” and “Kubbooten” were the forerunners. Aside from the stem, every thing that has been said in regard to the “Schokkers” is applicable here. They are met with at Urk and along the North Holland shore of the Zuiderzee, South of Medemblik, as well as in the provinces of Utrecht and of Gelderland as far as Harderwijk. Their names vary.

The oldest form is the “Kubboot”, which is met with under the names of “Vollendammer Kwakken”, “Bonse”, “Plüte”, and at Maassluis under that of “Platje van Maassluis”.

THE “BLAZER”.

Since the end of the XIXth century, the “Botters” have been built bigger and more bluff, the result being the Blazer type, of which the curved stem falls in less and of which the stern is fuller than that of the “Botter”. This kind of boat is used for fishing in the North Sea and is found all along our shores.

“Blazers” are now built with a “Boeier” stern, giving a mixed type: the Blazerboeier. This boat, by reason of its great stability, will soon take the place of the “Schokkers” and the “Botters”.

THE “LEMMERAAK”.

“Akes” are more and more used for fishing in the Zuyderzee. These vessels come from Friesland where they are called Lemmeraak or “Lemmerjacht”.

They are passably short but robust and bluff, thoroughly suited for running in shallow water.

THE “BOLLE” AND THE “KNOTS”.

The preceding type of boat is found at Urk under the name of Bolle van Urk, or else of “Bolletje van Urk”. It is derived from the “smack” group. It is curious to note that boats of the same kind have long frequented the port of Antwerp under the name of Knots van Antwerpen. (“Knots of Antwerp”).

THE “JOL”.

At Stavoren, there still exists the Stavorensche Jol (Stavoren Yawl), a small, short, bluff boat with a keel; it is exceedingly steady on the water. It is also met with now at Enkhuizen and at Medenblik. It is a clinker built boat (sometimes carvel built at the present time) which is often compared to a “sabot” on account of its rounded forms. It carries a fish tank and, as it has a keel, the lee boards are lacking. It is spritsail rigged, and its tonnage is from 4 to 6 tons.

At the Helder, at Enkhuizen and at Medenblik a great deal of use is made of flats, of which the length may be as much as 10 metres. The stern has a sternframe; the quite long bow, on the contrary, rises high with a slight rake. The vessel is clinker built and carries two bilge keels and a bit of a false keel at the after end of the main keel. It gauges generally from 2 to 5 tons.

As a rule, the tonnage of the “Botters” and “Schokkers” varies from 20 to 30 tons. The smaller types met with at Huizen run from 16 to 20 tons, and at Harderwijck and Elburg, from 13 to 18 tons.

The variations between the fundamental groups may be attributed to the different ideas of builders, just as there are differences in the costumes of various countries.

But the difference between the types of a same group is, on the contrary, the result of the use made of the boat and hence of the fishing apparatus employed on board.

In order to make this more easily understood, it will be well to give a short description of the fishing apparatus used on the Zuiderzee, this description being taken from the report published by the Zuiderzeevereeniging (1905, pp. 35 et seq), as well from the annual reports on deep sea fishing.

The fishing outfit can be divided into movable apparatus and fixed apparatus, the latter being the less important for our study.

Belonging to the former, there are:

a) The Wonderkuil (anglicé: miraculous pocket) which, like the Kwakkuil and the Dwarskuil, is composed of a net, in the shape of a pocket which has its mouth kept open by a square frame (made of four pieces of wood called “juffers-oorstokken”). The net is moved ahead while holding the frame vertical, all the apparatus touching the bottom. The fish enters at the mouth and is captured in a convergent bag. The movement through the water distends the net. The “Wonderkuil” is hung between two “Botters”, which go ahead at the greatest possible speed so as to entrap the quick swimming fish, such as the herring. The large “Botters”, being good sailers, are very well suited to this work.

The “Wonderkuil” scarcely touches the bottom on account of the great speed, but every fish which comes in front of the opening is taken, necessarily. The narrowing of the meshes, caused by the great speed, prevents any from escaping.

b) The Kwakkuil, used at Vollendam, is a small “Wonderkuil” drawn by one boat which is generally a “Vollendammer Kwak”. The pocket is then attached to two beams fastened together crosswise at the stern of the boat. As the speed is less than that attained with the “Wonderkuil”, the net drags along the bottom which enables eels, plaice and sole to be taken.

c) The Dwarskuil (transverse pocket), smaller than the “Kwakkuil” but of the same shape, is fastened to the side of the boat by lines which lead to the bow and stern. In order to work it, the boat must move crossways and, naturally, its change of position is slow. The boat should not be flat bottomed, and while fishing is going on the lee boards should be raised.

The “Wonderkuil” is used in deep water and on hard sandy bottoms; in shoaler water and on soft bottoms the “Kwakkuil” is brought into play, and in the shallow waters of Utrecht and Gelderland it is the “Dwarskuilen” which is employed.

The many complaints about the destruction of fish by the “Wonderkuil” were not born of yesterday; for already, in 1559, an ordinance fixed the size of the meshes of the “Aetkens of Steerten” (of the tails of the nets).

There should certainly be mentioned as part of the movable outfit, the drag nets used for catching herring, anchovy, sole and smelt. They are used in all the large fishing ports of the Zuiderzee. These nets are dragged between any two boats whatever.

Along the Frisian coast, fishing is carried on mainly with fixed apparatus; this is particularly the case to the North of Makkum. This way of fishing requires only small boats (24 to 30 traps per boat). Eel and herring traps are used for this purpose. It is probable also that the old Kubboot owes its name to a fishing instrument called “Kub”, a wicker basket shaped like a funnel, nearly closed at the lower end where, however, a small opening is left. Following this opening is a small silk net in which an opening allows the eels to pass which are piled up in the basket.

Fishing in the Zuiderzee is of a special sort because a large number of Zuiderzee fishermen frequent the North Sea while others devote themselves to fishing in the rivers; those who spend the entire year on the Zuiderzee itself, are the fewest in number. The first use large “Blazers”, “Schokkers” and “Botters”; the second take the “Gondels”, “Lemmeraken”, “Punters”, etc., and the last use “Kwakken”, “Kubbooten” and “Haringschuiten”.

Besides those just mentioned, there are a whole series of chance fishermen using all sorts of boats. Hence it is very difficult to give the exact number of boats in use for fishing and the figures in the above tables are only round totals in so far, at least, as they relate to the Zuiderzee.

THE “WATERSCHIP”.

The vessel called “Waterschip”, used for towing the Zeekameelen (a sort of floating dock) through the Pampus, has long been known. The “Waterschip” was, at the beginning, a simple Marken “Botter”. As has been seen already, the “Zeekameelen” date from 1691. They were built later with a stronger stem and sternpost and with a deckhouse abaft the mast. These vessels become thus still more separated from the old “Botters”.

The towing of the ships of the East India Company, which belonged at first to two private societies (the Big and the Little Societies), was granted by contract, subsequently to 1741, to the more important society which gave to its “Waterscheepjes”, as a distinguishing mark, a plate of tin fastened to the stem. This measure did not suffice, however, to keep off the competitors. It was ordered, in 1783, that the Admiralty arms should be painted on the sails of the accepted vessels, just as letters are painted on the sails of fishing boats at the present time.

Under the French domination, when navigation was reduced to a forced suspension, the “Waterschepen” went so to pieces that, in 1824, of the 18 which were still in existence, 6 were broken up. The remainder were sold in 1827, after the opening of the North Holland Canal. (LE COMTE, p. 38.)

These “Waterschepen” must not be confounded with those used for carrying sea water and of which a few engravings are reproduced in the collection. These boats, with scarcely an exception, belong to the group of “smacks”.