Originally, the bow of the Meuse boats had another form; of late years,
these craft have been made fuller, and their bow has been bent back to
reduce the length of the boat and increase its capacity. The oldest
type of this category is the _Whalemajol_ (or Mijole). Its bow and
stern are pointed and its main frame is a trapezoid on which the three
upper tiers of planking are clinker laid and the hull below is carvel
built.
[Sidenote: III 108]
[Sidenote: III 111]
The _Herna_ is of the same size as the preceding, is wider at bow and
stern, and ends with a horizontal timber. Its main frame, formerly
trapezoidal, as in the preceding case, is now rectangular like that of
the Rhenish “Sloffen”.
The _Spitsbek_ is a small “Herna” (old form) entirely covered over. It
is made of all sizes and is called “Spitsbek” (pointed beak) on account
of its slender shape.
The “Klaphekken” seems now to be preferred to the old rudder of the
“Whalemajols” and it is gradually being adopted. A “Whalemajol with a
klaphekken” is called a “Whalepont” or a “Maaspont”.
Boats of this kind are also found in the southern part of the Limbourg
Meuse. Further down stream they are, however, the “Hedelsche Aken”,
which come between the “Keen” and the “Majols”, which latter are the
more numerous. These craft carry a “Klaphekken” and sometimes they also
carry now an ordinary rudder.