leadsman

He was the leadsman, that is to say, it was his business to sound the depths of the sea; he had plumbed the profound abysses of the ocean, calculated the elevation of the land and the apparent motion of the sky; he knew the exact time by looking at the sun, and he could tell from the stars how far they had travelled.

In Midsummer Days, and Other Tales August Strindberg 1880

Though she received nine shots in her hull, the leadsman was the only man wounded on board.

The Three Commanders William Henry Giles Kingston 1847

The leadsman was a rather pompous individual, duly impressed with the importance of his position, in having charge of the deep-sea line, which was something short of two fathoms in length.

Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 423 Volume 17, New Series, February 7, 1852 Various 1841

Giving the cub pilot the wheel in what he knew to be safe water, Bixby arranged for the leadsman to begin calling out ever more dangerous readings, while Clemens grew increasingly agitated, finally crying out in an agony of doubt and despair: Quick, Ben!

LIGHTING OUT FOR THE TERRITORY JR. ROY MORRIS 2010

Giving the cub pilot the wheel in what he knew to be safe water, Bixby arranged for the leadsman to begin calling out ever more dangerous readings, while Clemens grew increasingly agitated, finally crying out in an agony of doubt and despair: Quick, Ben!

LIGHTING OUT FOR THE TERRITORY JR. ROY MORRIS 2010

The halt is a matter depending on the sounding-line, and not on the leadsman.

Les Miserables 2008

The veteran pilot arranged with the “leadsman,” the deckhand who took constant soundings of the channel depth with a lead-weighted rope, to falsely cry out smaller and smaller depths as Sam manned the pilot wheel across a passage that he knew to be safe and deep.

Mark Twain Ron Powers 2005

The veteran pilot arranged with the “leadsman,” the deckhand who took constant soundings of the channel depth with a lead-weighted rope, to falsely cry out smaller and smaller depths as Sam manned the pilot wheel across a passage that he knew to be safe and deep.

Mark Twain Ron Powers 2005

We were surrounded by reefs, a light breeze, and fair depth of water-called out by the leadsman, 2, 2½, 2, 3 fathoms, until after some time we got into deeper water, and passed out of the Bay in safety.

Narrative of an expedition undertaken for the exploration of the country lying between Rockingham Bay and Cape York 2003

Lieutenant Otero, who had charge of the frigate, paused to listen to the leadsman who was calling the depth.

Sharpe's Devil Cornwell, Bernard 1992