diff --git a/Common/util_eddies.py b/Common/util_eddies.py
index 760bd343440f0c69cd5de3ec9c13b5b5a3acfcf3..616dd1748887bcfe605a35b205fe0b11892f58e1 100644
--- a/Common/util_eddies.py
+++ b/Common/util_eddies.py
@@ -112,8 +112,9 @@ class SHPC_class:
         return self._n_dates[i_slice]
 
     def get_ishape_last(self, i_slice, orientation):
-        """Can return None if ishape_last.txt does not exist and cannot be
-        created.
+        """Normally returns self._ishape_last[i_slice][orientation], which is
+        a numpy array. Can return None if ishape_last.txt does not
+        exist and cannot be created.
 
         """
 
@@ -162,7 +163,11 @@ class SHPC_class:
         return self._n_shapes[i_slice][orientation]
 
     def _create_ishape_last(self, i_slice, orientation):
-        """Can fail if it cannot get a reader."""
+        """Defines self._ishape_last[i_slice][orientation], which is a numpy
+        array, and creates the file ishape_last.txt. Can fail if it
+        cannot get a reader.
+
+        """
 
         last_date = self.d_init[i_slice]
         date_ishape = [] # list of tuples (date, ishape)