Sunday, April 2, A.M.—­Went round Cape Armitage to Pram Point on sea ice for first time yesterday afternoon.  Ice solid everywhere, except off the Cape, where there are numerous open pools.  Can only imagine layers of comparatively warm water brought to the surface by shallows.  The ice between the pools is fairly shallow.  One Emperor killed off the Cape.  Several skuas seen—­three seals up in our Bay—­several off Pram Point in the shelter of Horse Shoe Bay.  A great many fish on sea ice—­mostly small, but a second species 5 or 6 inches long:  imagine they are chased by seals and caught in brashy ice where they are unable to escape.  Came back over hill:  glorious sunset, brilliant crimson clouds in west.

Returned to find wind dropping, the first time for three days.  It turned to north in the evening.  Splendid aurora in the night; a bright band of light from S.S.W. to E.N.E. passing within 10 deg. of the zenith with two waving spirals at the summit.  This morning sea to north covered with ice.  Min. temp, for night -5 deg., but I think most of the ice was brought in by the wind.  Things look more hopeful.  Ice now continuous to Cape Evans, but very thin as far as Glacier Tongue; three or four days of calm or light winds should make everything firm.

Wednesday, April 5, A.M.—­The east wind has continued with a short break on Sunday for five days, increasing in violence and gradually becoming colder and more charged with snow until yesterday, when we had a thick overcast day with falling and driving snow and temperature down to -11 deg..

Went beyond Castle Rock on Sunday and Monday mornings with Griffith Taylor.

Think the wind fairly local and that the Strait has frozen over to the north, as streams of drift snow and ice crystals (off the cliffs) were building up the ice sheet towards the wind.  Monday we could see the approaching white sheet—­yesterday it was visibly closer to land, though the wind had not decreased.  Walking was little pleasure on either day:  yesterday climbed about hills to see all possible.  No one else left the hut.  In the evening the wind fell and freezing continued during night (min.—­17 deg.).  This morning there is ice everywhere.  I cannot help thinking it has come to stay.  In Arrival Bay it is 6 to 7 inches thick, but the new pools beyond have only I inch of the regular elastic sludgy new ice.  The sky cleared last night, and this morning we have sunshine for the first time for many days.  If this weather holds for a day we shall be all right.  We are getting towards the end of our luxuries, so that it is quite time we made a move—­we are very near the end of the sugar.

The skuas seem to have gone, the last was seen on Sunday.  These birds were very shy towards the end of their stay, also very dark in plumage; they did not seem hungry, and yet it must have been difficult for them to get food.

The seals are coming up in our Bay—­five last night.  Luckily the dogs have not yet discovered them or the fact that the sea ice will bear them.