<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 03/31/2000
000 C000000 0001035687
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 6.1
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-08101
001 C000000 9733677530
002 A000000 GC3, 100 MULBERRY STREET, 9TH FLOOR
002 B000000 NEWARK
002 C000000 NJ
002 D010000 07102
002 D020000 4077
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 THE PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION
008 B000001 S
008 C000001 801-22808
008 D010001 NEWARK
008 D020001 NJ
008 D030001 07102
008 D040001 3777
008 A000002 PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS FUND MANAGEMENT LLC
008 B000002 A
008 C000002 801-31104
008 D010002 NEWARK
008 D020002 NJ
008 D030002 07102
008 D040002 4077
011 A000001 PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC
011 B000001 8-27154
011 C010001 NEWARK
011 C020001 NJ
<PAGE> PAGE 2
011 C030001 07102
011 C040001 4077
012 A000001 PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES LLC
012 B000001 84-5681
012 C010001 NEW BRUNSWICK
012 C020001 NJ
012 C030001 08906
013 A000001 PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
013 B010001 NEW YORK
013 B020001 NY
013 B030001 10036
014 A000001 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
014 B000001 8-27154
014 A000002 PRUCO SECURITIES CORPORATED
014 B000002 8-16402
014 A000003 PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC
014 B000003 8-27154
015 A000001 STATE STREET BANK & TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 NORTH QUINCY
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02171
015 E010001 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 114
019 C000000 PRUDENTIAL
020 A000001 BEAR, STEARNS & CO., INC.
020 B000001 13-3299429
020 C000001 2
020 A000002 DAIN BOSWORTH INC.
020 B000002 N/A
020 C000002 2
020 A000003 MERRILL LYNCH,PIERCE,FENNER & SMITH, INC.
020 B000003 13-5674085
020 C000003 1
020 A000004 DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORP.
020 B000004 13-2741729
020 C000004 1
020 A000005 BRIDGE TRADING CO.
020 B000005 43-1450530
020 C000005 1
020 A000006 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY, INC.
020 B000006 11-2418191
020 C000006 1
020 A000007 NEUBERGER & BERMAN, LLC
020 B000007 13-5521910
020 C000007 1
020 A000008 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
020 B000008 13-2518466
020 C000008 0
<PAGE> PAGE 3
020 A000009 BA INVESTMENT SECURITIES, INC.
020 B000009 95-3783486
020 C000009 0
020 A000010 ROBINSON-HUMPHREY CO.
020 B000010 58-1472560
020 C000010 0
021 000000 9
022 A000001 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000001 13-3224016
022 C000001 150590
022 D000001 1022
022 A000002 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000002 13-5108880
022 C000002 103346
022 D000002 9963
022 A000003 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY, INC.
022 B000003 11-2418191
022 C000003 64231
022 D000003 6783
022 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER & CO.
022 B000004 13-2655998
022 C000004 56291
022 D000004 13697
022 A000005 CHASE SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000005 13-3112953
022 C000005 63641
022 D000005 578
022 A000006 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
022 B000006 13-2518466
022 C000006 51203
022 D000006 6910
022 A000007 MERRILL LYNCH,PIERCE,FENNER & SMITH, INC.
022 B000007 13-5674085
022 C000007 45133
022 D000007 2628
022 A000008 BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
022 B000008 56-2058405
022 C000008 42174
022 D000008 190
022 A000009 FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000009 54-0796506
022 C000009 36921
022 D000009 239
022 A000010 GENERAL MOTORS ACCEPTANCE CORP.
022 B000010 N/A
022 C000010 24450
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 847811
023 D000000 113767
024 000000 N
025 D000001 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
025 D000002 0
025 D000003 0
025 D000004 0
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 N
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 2085
028 A020000 674
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 3360
028 B010000 3937
028 B020000 656
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 6056
028 C010000 4937
028 C020000 702
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 7036
028 D010000 5406
028 D020000 413
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 6453
028 E010000 1359
028 E020000 650
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 5395
028 F010000 2441
028 F020000 542
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 10389
028 G010000 20165
028 G020000 3636
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 38689
028 H000000 8627
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 42
030 B000000 4.00
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
031 B000000 0
032 000000 0
033 000000 42
034 000000 Y
035 000000 480
036 A000000 N
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 N
040 000000 Y
041 000000 Y
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 0
042 D000000 100
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 904
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.650
048 A010000 0
048 A020000 0.000
048 B010000 0
048 B020000 0.000
048 C010000 0
048 C020000 0.000
048 D010000 0
048 D020000 0.000
048 E010000 0
048 E020000 0.000
048 F010000 0
048 F020000 0.000
048 G010000 0
048 G020000 0.000
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 0
048 K020000 0.000
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 6
052 000000 N
053 A000000 Y
053 B000000 Y
053 C000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 N
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 Y
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 N
054 M000000 N
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 N
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056 000000 Y
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 1000
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 1.9
062 J000000 0.0
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 0.0
062 N000000 0.0
062 O000000 0.0
062 P000000 83.9
062 Q000000 1.0
062 R000000 11.2
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 7.4
064 A000000 N
064 B000000 N
066 A000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 7
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 Y
070 B010000 Y
070 B020000 Y
070 C010000 Y
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 Y
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 Y
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 N
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 Y
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 Y
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 Y
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 N
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 Y
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 Y
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 138803
071 B000000 160943
071 C000000 137303
071 D000000 101
072 A000000 12
072 B000000 15533
072 C000000 337
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 935
072 G000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 127
072 J000000 195
072 K000000 0
072 L000000 150
072 M000000 6
072 N000000 70
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 30
072 S000000 25
072 T000000 904
072 U000000 1
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 51
072 X000000 2494
072 Y000000 255
072 Z000000 13631
072AA000000 7050
072BB000000 12859
072CC010000 0
072CC020000 19796
072DD010000 3165
072DD020000 10446
072EE000000 0
073 A010000 0.0000
073 A020000 0.0000
073 B000000 0.0000
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 0
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 2335
074 D000000 102647
074 E000000 7272
074 F000000 4698
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 1507
074 J000000 2141
074 K000000 212
074 L000000 3292
074 M000000 112
074 N000000 124216
074 O000000 2049
074 P000000 69
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 1222
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 120876
074 U010000 2820
074 U020000 11910
074 V010000 0.00
074 V020000 0.00
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 7206
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 143920
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 Y
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 Y
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 N
077 Q020000 N
077 Q030000 N
078 000000 N
080 A000000 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C000000 70000
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 114
082 A000000 N
082 B000000 0
083 A000000 N
083 B000000 0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000 0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 10
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
SIGNATURE GRACE C. TORRES
TITLE TREASURER
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001035687
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURNFUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURNFUND (CLASS A)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 138,491,717
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 118,459,149
<RECEIVABLES> 5,644,913
<ASSETS-OTHER> 112,334
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,049,284
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,291,379
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 165,317,857
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14,729,457
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,682,509
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (8,040,950)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (17,154,229)
<NET-ASSETS> (31,411,966)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 337,317
<INTEREST-INCOME> 15,532,724
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,238,646
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 13,631,395
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5,809,171)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (7,145,217)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 677,007
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (13,631,395)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 35,075,107
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (65,764,308)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 8,145,708
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (35,497,881)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (8,040,950)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 935,483
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,983,624
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 32,154,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.91
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.85
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.70)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.85)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.21
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.18
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001035687
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURNFUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURNFUND (CLASS B)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 138,491,717
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 118,459,149
<RECEIVABLES> 5,644,913
<ASSETS-OTHER> 112,334
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,049,284
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,291,379
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 165,317,857
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14,729,457
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,682,509
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (8,040,950)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (17,154,229)
<NET-ASSETS> (31,411,966)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 337,317
<INTEREST-INCOME> 15,532,724
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,238,646
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 13,631,395
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5,809,171)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (7,145,217)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 677,007
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (13,631,395)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 35,075,107
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (65,764,308)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 8,145,708
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (35,497,881)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (8,040,950)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 935,483
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,983,624
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 93,280,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.91
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.80
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.70)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.80)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.21
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.68
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001035687
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURNFUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURNFUND (CLASS C)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 138,491,717
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 118,459,149
<RECEIVABLES> 5,644,913
<ASSETS-OTHER> 112,334
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,049,284
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,291,379
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 165,317,857
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14,729,457
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,682,509
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (8,040,950)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (17,154,229)
<NET-ASSETS> (31,411,966)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 337,317
<INTEREST-INCOME> 15,532,724
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,238,646
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 13,631,395
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5,809,171)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (7,145,217)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 677,007
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (13,631,395)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 35,075,107
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (65,764,308)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 8,145,708
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (35,497,881)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (8,040,950)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 935,483
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,983,624
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 16,567,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.91
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.80
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.70)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.80)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.21
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.68
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001035687
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURNFUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 004
<NAME> HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURNFUND (CLASS Z)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 138491717
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 118459149
<RECEIVABLES> 5644913
<ASSETS-OTHER> 112334
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2049284
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1291379
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 165317857
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14729457
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16682509
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (8040950)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (17154229)
<NET-ASSETS> (31411966)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 337317
<INTEREST-INCOME> 15532724
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2238646
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 13631395
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5809171)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (7145217)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 677007
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 35075107
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (65764308)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 8145708
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (35497881)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (8040950)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 935483
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1983624
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,919,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.91
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.81
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.7)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> -0.81
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.21
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.93
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
Report of Independent Accountants
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Prudential High Yield Total Return Fund, Inc.
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements of Prudential
High Yield Total Return Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), for the period ended March
31, 2000, we considered its internal control, including control activities for
safeguarding securities, in order to determine our auditing procedures for the
purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial statements and to comply
with the requirements of Form N-SAR, not to provide assurance on internal
control.
The management of the Fund is responsible for establishing and maintaining
internal control. In fulfilling this responsibility, estimates and judgments by
management are required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
controls. Generally, controls that are relevant to an audit pertain to the
entity's
objective of preparing financial statements for external purposes that are
fairly
presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Those
controls include the safeguarding of assets against unauthorized acquisition,
use or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in internal control, errors or fraud may occur
and not be detected. Also, projection of any evaluation of internal control to
future periods is subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions or that the effectiveness of the design and
operation may deteriorate.
Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily disclose all matters
in internal control that might be material weaknesses under standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A
material weakness is a condition in which the design or operation of one or
more of the internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low
level the risk that misstatements caused by error or fraud in amounts that would
be material in relation to the financial statements being audited may occur and
not be detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of
performing their assigned functions. However, we noted no matters involving
internal control and its operation, including controls for safeguarding
securities, that we consider to be material weaknesses as defined above as of
March 31, 2000.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of the Board of
Directors, management and the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified
parties.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
May 19, 2000
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Prudential High Yield Total Return Fund, Inc.
(2)
