Alan Brooks Jr., age 12, of Wilmington, Del., for his question:

DOES THE SWORDFISH USE ITS BEAK?

Swordfish is the common name applied to a large spiny finned fish that is found in most seas. The swordfish averages about 250 poundsbut individual fish may weigh more than four times that much.

The swordfish is characterized by the fusion and prolongation of the bones of the upper jaw to form a rigid, swordlike beak that often constitutes one third of the total body length. This beak is used in spearing the fish and large mollusks on which the swordfish feeds.

Swordfish meat is edibile and nutritious.

The fish are hunted with harpoons as well as with big game fishing equipment. The swordfish, when wounded, will jump out of the water and thrash about, thrusting its beak at whatever is in its path.

Sometimes swordfish pretend exhaustion when fighting a fisherman. When approached by a boat, the fish have been known to drive their beaks into solid wood planking two inches thick.

The swordfish is also know as the broadbill.