John Lewis, age 8, of Santa Cruz, Calif., for his question:

WHAT IS A GRUNION?

A grunion is a small, silvery fish that can be found on the coast of southern California and lower California. The small fish lay their eggs on sandy beaches from late February until early September.

Grunion lay their eggs on nights of the highest tide. Many people gather on the beaches on these nights to catch the fish. They are very good to eat.

Newspapers in the places where grunion can be found report when the little fish are expected, giving beach locations and times. And then the fun starts. Fishermen, by law, can only use their hands to catch the fish. Nets are not allowed.

Grunion eggs hatch in two weeks after they are laid. As the waves wash the eggs out of the sand, the babies burst out like popcorn.