EVOLUTION OF THE FISHING SCHOONER 309 



hull was not deep, consequently so much superstructure 

 erected on a moderate-sized hull rendered the vessel un- 

 seaworthy in windy or stormy weather, and of little use in 

 making headway against adverse winds. 



The first boat used by the settlers was the wooden canoe, 

 made by the Indians. In Maine these were constructed 

 by fastening strips of birch bark on to light wooden 

 frames ; in Massachusetts, the trunks of large trees were 

 hollowed out for the purpose. The majority of the canoes 

 were capable of holding four or five men, yet larger 

 ones were built which held twenty, thirty, and even forty 

 men. This boat was so light, cheap, and convenient that 

 it became the universal oyster boat on the Atlantic coast, 

 being still in use in some localities. 



Ship's boats, called shallops and pinnaces, were em- 

 ployed in the shore fisheries until the colonists had l>oats 

 constructed for the purpose. At Plymouth, boat-building 

 began in 1624. In addition to the names shallop and pin- 

 nace, it is probable that the term lugger was used for 

 the early small craft. They were small boats, often con- 

 structed by the settler in his barn or shed during the 

 winter season and hauled to the shore for launching by 

 yokes of oxen. The boats were usually provided with two 

 unsupported masts, each carrying a large square or lug 

 sail. The colonists have left us representations of much 

 of their personal and household belongings, but there is 

 no picture left by them of the rig and appearance of their 

 earliest small fishing boats. 



For deeper water the catch, or ketch, was employed. 

 The Dutch called them pinkie, a term derived from the 

 Mediterranean region and signifying round at both ends. 

 The first ketches had one mast amidships with a square 

 sail suspended to it cross-wise of the boat. Afterwards, 

 a small mizzenmast was added away aft; the mainmast 

 was then set up a little forward of amidships. The main- 



