Yesterday morning it was calm and I went up Crater Hill.  The sea of stratus cloud hung curtain-like over the Strait—­blue sky east and south of it and the Western Mountains bathed in sunshine, sharp, clear, distinct, a glorious glimpse of grandeur on which the curtain gradually descended.  In the morning it looked as though great pieces of Barrier were drifting out.  From the hill one found these to be but small fragments which the late gale had dislodged, leaving in places a blue wall very easily distinguished from the general white of the older fractures.  The old floe and a good extent of new ice had remained fast in Pram Point Bay.  Great numbers of seals up as usual.  The temperature was up to +20 deg. at noon.  In the afternoon a very chill wind from the east, temperature rapidly dropping till zero in the evening.  The Strait obstinately refuses to freeze.

We are scoring another success in the manufacture of blubber lamps, which relieves anxiety as to lighting as the hours of darkness increase.

The young ice in Pram Point Bay is already being pressed up.

Friday, March 24, A.M.—­Skuas still about, a few—­very shy—­very dark in colour after moulting.

Went along Arrival Heights yesterday with very keen over-ridge wind—­it was difficult to get shelter.  In the evening it fell calm and has remained all night with temperature up to + 18 deg..  This morning it is snowing with fairly large flakes.

Yesterday for the first time saw the ice foot on the south side of the bay, a wall some 5 or 6 ft. above water and 12 or 14 ft. below; the sea bottom quite clear with the white wall resting on it.  This must be typical of the ice foot all along the coast, and the wasting of caves at sea level alone gives the idea of an overhanging mass.  Very curious and interesting erosion of surface of the ice foot by waves during recent gale.

The depot party returned yesterday morning.  They had thick weather on the outward march and missed the track, finally doing 30 miles between Safety Camp and Corner Camp.  They had a hard blow up to force 8 on the night of our gale.  Started N.W. and strongest S.S.E.

The sea wants to freeze—­a thin coating of ice formed directly the wind dropped; but the high temperature does not tend to thicken it rapidly and the tide makes many an open lead.  We have been counting our resources and arranging for another twenty days’ stay.

Saturday, March 25, A.M.—­We have had two days of surprisingly warm weather, the sky overcast, snow falling, wind only in light airs.  Last night the sky was clearing, with a southerly wind, and this morning the sea was open all about us.  It is disappointing to find the ice so reluctant to hold; at the same time one supposes that the cooling of the water is proceeding and therefore that each day makes it easier for the ice to form—­the sun seems to have lost all power, but I imagine its rays still tend to warm the surface water about the noon hours.  It is only a week now to the date which I thought would see us all at Cape Evans.