Nautical instruments
Sounding lead, Deep Sea Lead with line
Little used deep sea lead of 9 lbs with a lead line on a reel to find waterdepth and type of soil with a line of 30 fathoms. Every fathom is marked with a red, blue or grey flag, every ten fathom with a leather vane. The octagonal lead is 10.5 inch long, diameter two inches. At the bottom is a hole to put in some fat. Adhere soil gives an indication of the structure of the sea bottom.
The reel is made of oak.
Catalog: NM.3-23
Date: ca. 1900
LD reel: 66×21 cm (26×8 in)
Signed: not signed
Origin: probably English
Condition: perfect, working and wear consistent with age and use