[Sidenote: II 217]
The “Katschepen” are descended from the “boeier” and the “fluit”.
They are therefore vessels of marked curves. As they were often used
in shoal water the bottom was very flat and, furthermore, it was very
angular all around the edge. They were known as poor sailers, but they
carried a large cargo. ~Witsen~ says (p. 163) that their slowness
earned for them the name of “asses” rather than that of “kats”.
It had no beakhead; there were a forecastle, and a cabin. The tiller,
which was manœuvred underneath the cabin, had no extension bar. These
vessels were built most generally of pitch-pine.
All the types mentioned above have the stern of a flute, that is to
say: they are square sterned, which is characteristic of the old Dutch
naval construction.