The conditions would have been difficult even for a station of high power.
We were accumulating gradually a stock of seal meat during these days of waiting.

Fresh meat for the dogs was needed, and seal-steaks and liver made a very welcome change from the ship's rations aboard the 'Endurance'.

Four crab-eaters and three Weddells, over a ton of meat for dog and man, fell to our guns on February 2, and all hands were occupied most of the day getting the carcasses back to the ship over the rough ice.

We rigged three sledges for man-haulage and brought the seals about two miles, the sledging parties being guided among the ridges and pools by semaphore from the crow's-nest.

Two more seals were sighted on the far side of a big pool, but I did not allow them to be pursued.