BOATS AND GEAR 229 



trawlers, which work in the North Sea, on the Sole Pit, 

 and the Dowsing and Leman Banks, are neat ketches of 

 30 to 50 tons. The Gloucester (U.S.A.) trawlers are 

 schooners. The herring boats of the east coast of Scot- 

 land have two masts ; the mainmast is fixed and rakes 

 forward but the foremast can be lowered into a crutch, 

 in order to minimise rolling and to keep the boat's head 

 to the sea when " drifting." The herring boats of the 

 west coast, or "skiffs" of Loch Fyne, are ketches, the 

 mast raking aft. The German and Scandinavian cutter, 

 as well as the Swerkutter of the lower Elbe, is properly 

 speaking a Dundee ketch. We must not forget the 

 Swedish boats, the Danish bouticlars, beiboots, and 

 cutters, the light rowing-boats, &c. 



Before this medley of forms we cannot but feel a little 

 giddy. We ask ourselves whether, in addition to the 

 local factors which have evoked them, there are none 

 which have a more general bearing. My worthy friend 

 M. Jean Reusser, deep-sea captain of the first-class and 

 ensign in the Naval Reserve, has offered me the following 

 explanation : We must start from this principle : that a 

 sailing boat has to seek the wind at a certain height 

 above the water. Now two cases present themselves : 

 the sailing vessel must either brave the strong winds of 

 the Atlantic, the Channel, or the North Sea, or it has to 

 navigate in a region of light winds : for example, in the 

 Mediterranean. Its general form will depend upon these 

 two factors. Strong winds demand a stable hull what 

 we call a " stiff " boat. The hull will thus be wide, and 

 will permit the use of tall masts ; consequently there is no 

 need for a high gaff or sharply pointed topsail. The 

 vessel will be a cutter, yawl, ketch, or schooner. The 

 result of light winds is entirely different. They permit 

 the use of long, narrow vessels which make for speed. A 



