Final answer:
The most notable sound device in the excerpt is alliteration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most notable sound device in the excerpt from 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield is alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words. In the excerpt, the repeated 'w' sound in 'whale's way', 'wind's', and 'whetted knife' creates a musical quality and emphasizes the strong, cutting force of the wind.
Learn more about Sound devices in poetry