sounding lead

Nevertheless Monsieur de Biancourt was always on his guard, and often sent the boat on ahead with the sounding-lead.

On the 11th of May, the sounding lead was cast, and bottom was found at 80b fathoms; a sign that they were upon the Codfish Banks.

He in turn sold me to a ship-maker, who worked me over into a sounding lead for a steamer he had built.

Beyond this depth the sounding-lead rests, not upon the wall-like face of the reef, but on the ordinary shelving sea-bottom.

Yes, Tom, a sounding-lead with a great bullet, which they left at the bottom when they pulled the line in again.