The long-wavelength limit of elastic wave scattering by surface cracks in 3d is considered. It is shown that, if the crack is normal to the surface, the scattering can be described by two real parameters, one of which may be taken to be the crack size. The other therefore depends on shape, orientation, and burial depth. Many computed illustrations are given. It is concluded that the amount of information about cracks obtainable by low frequency elastic wave scattering is very limited