<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 04/30/99
000 C000000 0001002870
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 PRINCIPAL LIMITED TERM BOND FUND INC
001 B000000 811-07453
001 C000000 5152475476
002 A000000 PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP
002 B000000 DES MOINES
002 C000000 IA
002 D010000 50392
002 D020000 0200
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
008 A000001 PRINCIPAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-8144
008 D010001 DES MOINES
008 D020001 IA
008 D030001 50392
008 D040001 0200
008 A000002 INVISTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
008 B000002 S
008 C000002 801-23020
008 D010002 DES MOINES
008 D020002 IA
008 D030002 50309
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 44
019 C000000 PRINCORGRP
022 A000001 ASSOCIATES CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
022 B000001 74-1494554
022 C000001 45146
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE (DLJ)
022 B000002 13-2741729
022 C000002 1507
022 D000002 0
022 A000003 SUTRO & CO INC
022 B000003 94-1704902
022 C000003 852
<PAGE> PAGE 2
022 D000003 0
022 A000004 ADVEST INC.
022 B000004 06-0950348
022 C000004 310
022 D000004 816
022 A000005 GRUNTAL & CO.
022 B000005 13-3179859
022 C000005 0
022 D000005 843
022 A000006 FREEMAN SECURITIES
022 B000006 13-2662313
022 C000006 675
022 D000006 0
022 A000007 VINING-SPARKS
022 B000007 62-1445536
022 C000007 672
022 D000007 0
022 A000008 NORTHWEST MORTGAGE
022 B000008 UNKNOWN
022 C000008 349
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 SPEAR, LEADS, & KELLOG
022 B000009 13-5515160
022 C000009 333
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
022 B000010 13-1500700
022 C000010 300
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 50144
023 D000000 1822
024 000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 813
028 A020000 134
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 1418
028 B010000 1997
028 B020000 142
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 754
028 C010000 2439
028 C020000 100
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 2591
028 D010000 1431
028 D020000 105
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 1139
028 E010000 1918
028 E020000 109
<PAGE> PAGE 3
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 1809
028 F010000 2152
028 F020000 115
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 2952
028 G010000 10752
028 G020000 705
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 10663
028 H000000 5894
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 52
030 B000000 0.01
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 14
031 B000000 0
032 000000 4
033 000000 34
034 000000 Y
035 000000 3
036 A000000 N
036 B000000 0
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 100
042 D000000 0
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 35
044 000000 0
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 Y
062 A000000 Y
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 0.0
062 D000000 0.0
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
062 H000000 0.0
062 I000000 1.2
062 J000000 0.0
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 0.0
062 N000000 22.6
062 O000000 0.0
062 P000000 53.9
<PAGE> PAGE 4
062 Q000000 20.9
062 R000000 1.4
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 9.5
064 A000000 Y
064 B000000 N
066 A000000 N
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
071 A000000 4349
071 B000000 3627
071 C000000 30855
071 D000000 12
072 A000000 6
072 B000000 1070
072 C000000 0
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 80
072 G000000 0
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 49
072 J000000 1
072 K000000 0
072 L000000 0
072 M000000 4
072 N000000 22
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 1
072 S000000 1
072 T000000 35
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 1
072 X000000 194
072 Y000000 23
072 Z000000 899
072AA000000 3
072BB000000 0
072CC010000 0
072CC020000 431
072DD010000 778
072DD020000 114
072EE000000 0
073 A010000 0.0000
073 A020000 0.0000
073 B000000 0.0000
<PAGE> PAGE 5
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 55
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 387
074 D000000 30929
074 E000000 0
074 F000000 0
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 32
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 343
074 M000000 7
074 N000000 31753
074 O000000 0
074 P000000 0
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 9
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 31744
074 U010000 2672
074 U020000 565
074 V010000 0.00
074 V020000 0.00
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 2473
074 Y000000 1637
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 31886
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 N
SIGNATURE A S FILEAN
TITLE VICE PRES/SECRETARY
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 31,586,531
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 31,316,322
<RECEIVABLES> 375,048
<ASSETS-OTHER> 6,653
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 55,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 31,753,023
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 8,621
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8,621
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 32,022,816
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,671,914
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,781,690
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 32,064
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (40,269)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (270,209)
<NET-ASSETS> 31,744,402
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,070,005
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (170,678)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 899,327
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3,293
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (431,412)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 471,208
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (778,038)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 852,170
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,022,543)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 60,597
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 373,697
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 24,590
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (43,562)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 79,883
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 193,765
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 31,868,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.93
<PER-SHARE-NII> .28
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.13)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.28)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.80
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.00<F1>
<FN>
<F1>Without the Manager's voluntary waiver of a portion of certain expenses
for this period, this fund would have had share net investment income of
$.28 and a ratio of expenses to average net assets of 1.08%. The amount
waived was $11,013.
</FN>
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 31,586,531
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 31,316,322
<RECEIVABLES> 375,048
<ASSETS-OTHER> 6,653
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 55,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 31,753,023
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 8,621
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8,621
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 32,022,816
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 257,160
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 170,914
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 32,064
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (40,269)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (270,209)
<NET-ASSETS> 31,744,402
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,070,005
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (170,678)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 899,327
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3,293
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (431,412)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 471,208
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (53,428)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 103,806
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (22,395)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4,835
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 373,697
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 24,590
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (43,562)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 79,883
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 193,765
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 31,868,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.98
<PER-SHARE-NII> .26
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.52)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.86
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.35<F1>
<FN>
<F1>Without the Manager's voluntary waiver of a portion of certain expenses
for this period, this fund would have had share net investment income of
$.23 and a ratio of expenses to average net assets of 1.92%. The amount
waived was $6,021.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 31,586,531
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 31,316,322
<RECEIVABLES> 375,048
<ASSETS-OTHER> 6,653
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 55,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 31,753,023
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 8,621
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8,621
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 32,022,816
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 308,309
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 204,914
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 32,064
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (40,269)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (270,209)
<NET-ASSETS> 31,744,402
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,070,005
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (170,678)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 899,327
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3,293
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (431,412)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 471,208
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (60,387)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 131,006
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (33,596)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 5,985
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 373,697
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 24,590
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (43,562)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 79,883
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 193,765
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 31,868,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.93
<PER-SHARE-NII> .24
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.13)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.24)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.80
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.60<F1>
<FN>
<F1>Without the Manager's voluntary waiver of a portion of certain expenses
for this period, this fund would have had share net investment income of
$.23 and a ratio of expenses to average net assets of 2.10%. The amount
waived was $6,053.
</FN>
</TABLE>