In the United States surveying system, a "link" is a unit of length that is equal to 1/100th of a chain. Each link is approximately 7.92 inches long or about 0.201168 meters. This unit is primarily used in surveying and land measurement in the United States.
Surveyors often use a chain, which is comprised of 100 links, to measure distances in land surveys. The use of links and chains allows for precise measurements of land parcels, boundaries, and property lines.
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.