[Sidenote: II 201]
The oldest vessels known in Overijssel are the _Potten_ and the
_Pujen_ (~Witsen~, p. 170), of which few engravings are extant. The
names are now no longer met with; the primitive “Potten” and “Pujen”
have, however, not entirely disappeared there. The old forms have been
preserved there as everywhere else and, aside from a few changes, these
vessels have merely changed their names.
Clinker built hulls gave way first to those carvel built, and later the
forms of the boats became less angular. The old rig has changed and
the old round hatchways have made place for more simple flat hatches.
By these transformations, these vessels change their appearance
somewhat although the hull remains the same, but the names of “Potten”
and “Pujen” have given place to those of “Sompen”, “Peggen” and
“Snijboonen”, more generally met with to-day.
Already, Witsen and other authors have noted that the “Potten” and
“Pujen” are distinguished from the “Smalschepen” and “Wijdschepen” by
their finer bow and stern; the same difference as is now found between
the Hoys on the one side and the “Snijboonen” and “Sompen” on the
other. Besides, the name “Snijboon” (string bean) shows that it is a
question of a long and fine boat, that is: a flat bottomed boat with
lengthened bow and stern.