[Sidenote: II 253]
[Sidenote: III 52]
The _Otter_ a small, narrowed “Pleit”, from 16 to 30 metres long (see
~Dehem~, p. 507); 4 metres beam; draught of water loaded from 1.70 m.
to 2.20 m.; generally, 1.80 m. Its capacity varied from 70 to 180 tons.
The “Otter” had a “statie” and carried the ordinary fore and aft rig
mast, and a small jigger mast set in the “statie” often completed the
outfit.
“Schuiten” which correspond to the Dutch “Schuiten” are still met with
on the Scheldt alongside of the “Pleiten” and the “Otter”. This type of
vessels is just as different from the “Otter” as our “Schuit” is from
the “Hoy”. ~Dehem~ is, therefore, mistaken when he says, in his work
mentioned above (p. 507): “The Schuit is an ‹Otter› of smaller size....”
The “Pleiten” like the “Otters” are often met with in the Netherlands.
If the boats of the West of Belgium thus show the same characteristics
as those of our own country, it will be the same for those of East
Friesland.