"A lot of open craks"

Carpenter Harry McNeish was known for being dour and gloomy but this journal entry sounds almost cheerful - especially given the circumstances...

Tuesday Mar. 28th  My Wee Loves Birthday & I hope Mother & Her are doing Well. We did not get an observation. But we got a seal. which means a lot to us. & there was another up about 1 mile away but we could not get near it. As there is a lot of open craks full of brash ice. However the one will help us going as we are doing at present for the next 10 days. There was a cape piegeon flying around here this morning