Tls

[mra1]

Have completed this but am not sure if my answer to 23 across is correct as I cannot parse it "Mark Twain may be hiis answer (8) which ended as L?A??MAN and I could only find Leadsman to fit in. Is this correct, ifi so why or should I be looking for another answer?

[bibblebub]

http://www.tfd.com/leadsman

leadsman: the person using the lead line in taking soundings

and mark twain is one of the calls that such a person shouted out about water depth.

[boxtops]

Yes - Mark Twain took his name from the measure of depth used by leadsmen who were sounding the river depth on the Mississipi. Two fathoms was "mark twain".

[Tilly2]

Lead plumb line and mark twain, go together.

[mra1]

Thank you both very much indeed. Another piece of useful information to file away!

[Tilly2]

er?

[boxtops]

mra's response crossed with your post, by the look of it, tilly :-)

[Tilly2]

I know boxy. I'm just being......................Tilly.