Thursday Trivia

Re: Thursday Trivia

Would it be Huck Finn, or something like that?

Re: Thursday Trivia

I think if a person had a couple of scanners he'd be able to figure it out.

BobH

Re: Thursday Trivia

I bellive it was mark twain which was 6 feet

answer

As everyone noted, the answer is Mark Twain. I like the scanner reference ;-)

Re: answer

Thank you for the question.

Re: answer

"By the Mark Twain" is a report of the two fathom mark of the lead, as reported by the leadsman stationed at the bow of the riverboat (and Naval vessels when anchoring). Two fathoms is twelve feet of water at the mark on the lead rope. Modern sonar-based fathometers have rendered the leadsman obsolete. The old lead line was marked at (initially) half-fathom marks, and one fathom marks above ten fathoms. Its total length would be between 30 and 50 fathoms, with the shorter length the more common. There was also a deep sea lead, called the "dipsy-lead" in sailor's shorthand, that tested depth to 100 fathoms or 600 feet. It took several men and quite a bit of skill for an accurate throw of the deep sea lead.

The system of marks consists of a seemingly random collection of cloth strips tied on, to leather tabs punched with a specified number of holes, all of which can be read by touch on a dark night. The bottom of the lead itself had a hole filled with tallow to sample the bottom for further identification of its composition and thus improve a positional guess, depending on charts.

To further complicate things, the language used by the leadsman made things even more difficult to understand by the uninitiated, but the language was chosen to eliminate confusion when transmitting what could be critical information. A call of "quarter less twain" (10-1/2 feet) could be a matter of concern.

Fred in Missouri

Not too far from the Mighty Mississippi,

(or the Mighty Mo, for that matter!)

I must be really dense

I still don't get the scanner reference. Enlighten me oh wise ones

glc

Re: I must be really dense

Scanners (imaging type) use 'twain' technology! I thought that Dan would recognize the reference given his in-depth knowledge of computers and peripherals.

BobH

Plus, the cables attaching them to the

system unit are about 6 feet each, thus a couple of 'em.

BobH, who was really reaching with that reference.

Re: answer

Glad to be of service. Haven't seen you here much lately, glad to see you posting again.