Mike Brown, Jr., age 11, of Asbury Park, N.J., for his question:

WHERE IS JERSEY ISLAND?

Jersey is the name of the largest and southernmost of the Channel Islands in the English Channel, near France and Guernsey. About 10 miles long and from four to six miles wide, the island is a dependency of the British crown.

Saint Helier, a seaport on the southern coast, is the administrative center and largest town. Other towns include Saint Aubin and Gorey.

The raising of Jersey cattle, a breed that originated on the island, is the principal occupation on the island, along with the cultivation of potatoes, tomatoes, fruits and flowers. Fishing and tourism also help Jersey's economy.

Among points of interest in Jersey are many prehistoric megalithic monuments, a 12th Century church and the ruins of two medieval castles.

Cargo and passenger steamships operate on regular schedules between the island and Guernsey, Saint Malo, France, and points in England. The island is also linked to both Great Britain and France by air transport lines.