Posted by Robert Dilley on September 19, 2003 at 17:44:33 from 65.39.15.66 user rdilley.
In Reply to: Re: Anchor chain or swinging the lead? posted by Adrian on September 18, 2003 at 21:01:35:
My Seaman's Pocket Book gives the same marks as Adrian lists. It adds a series of rather dubious-quality mnemonics:
White = 5 letters = five and fifteen fathoms.
Red = Crimson = 7 letters = seven and seventeen fathoms.
Blue = 4 letters = 1 and 3 = thirteen fathoms.
The hole in the leather at ten fathoms represents the nought in 10.
I suspect it would be harder to remember these "Aids to Memory" than simply to recall the marks and numbers.
I have been fascinated by all the different spellings of fluorescent that have appeared!