A fathom is a unit of length used to measure the depth of water or the depth of objects underwater. In the international nautical mile system, one fathom is equal to exactly 1.8288 meters or approximately 6 feet. However, in the United States, the customary value for a fathom is often rounded to 6 feet.
Fathoms are commonly used in navigation, maritime activities, and underwater exploration to measure the depth of bodies of water, the draft of ships, and the depth of diving. Sailors, fishermen, and divers often use this unit to assess water depths.
The term "long reed" does not refer to a standard unit of measurement or a widely recognized term in contemporary systems of measurement. It's possible that "long reed" is used in a specific context or industry, but it does not have a standard definition in general measurements.
If you have more context or specific information about how "long reed" is used, I would be happy to try to provide a more precise explanation.