Eric Cutshaw, age 12, of Gastonia, N.C.,for his question:

HOW FAST DOES A BLUE WHALE SWIM?

Usually the gentle giant is in no great hurry. As he goes, he gulps great mouthfuls of water and uses his balleen strainers to sift out the plankton food. His normal cruising speed is between 8 and 10 knots, which is about 8 or 10 m.p.h. Sometimes he speeds up, perhaps to come to the aid of a relative in distress. So far as we know, his top speed seems to be around 18 knots.