Harley W. Meyer, Jr., age 11, of Phoenix, Ariz,, for his question:

What are the Grand Banks?

The Grand Banks reach out from southeastern Newfoundland 500 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Sailing on the surface, there is nothing to see there, for the Grand Banks are buried under 80 to 100 fathoms of water. The region is a submerged plateau.

The sea floor there is shallow. Sunlight can pierce the water which means that plants can flourish. This provides a food supply for countless fish. They come down from the cold north in the Labrador Current and up from the warm south from the Gulf Stream.

The Grand Banks is a vast banqueting hall for all kinds of marine life. Hence, this region is one of the best fishing grounds in the world.