PU7765

Heaving a lead Long Caption: When a ship was entering shallow or poorly charted waters, a lead and line was used to determine the depth of water beneath it. The lead weight would sink to the bottom while the line was marked out in fathoms with coloured knots. The leadsman would then call out the depth. Reliable able seamen were used for this task and were often referred to as leadsmen. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: PAD7765 Artist: John Augustus Atkinson; William Miller; James Walker Date: 1807 Medium: coloured etching Size: 247 mm x 185 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.