Actually, in the morning sun, vs dusk, it was a long thin drip of Permatex no 1 sealant. It was so consistent and long it sure looked like a crack and passed the fingernail test.
OK a slight correction the Permatex was the no. 3 type. I was putting it on the bolts to my poppit valve, when the wind blew and caused a bead on the midsection. Boy I am glad it is not a crack.....