Making a Traditional Leadline

Start with a length of 3/4 inch braided cotton twine. Attach a cast lead weight of 7 or 14 pounds. It's common for the weight to have a hollow at the bottom end. This hollow can be "armed" with tallow (Crisco makes an acceptable substitute) for picking up a sample of the sea bottom.

Mark the line as follows:

fathoms	mark
2	2 strips of leather
3	3 strips of leather
5	white cotton calico
7	red woolen bunting
10	leather with a round hole in it
13	3 strips of leather or blue woolen serge
15	white calico
17	red bunting
20	light line with 2 knots or leather with two round holes

The marks are designed to be read by feel at night. They should be inserted through the line and sewn into place. The line should be wet when measured for the marks.

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