WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001068234
<NAME> THE BLACKROCK HIGH YIELD TRUST INC.
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 124,926,728
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 112,882,180
<RECEIVABLES> 6,586,014
<ASSETS-OTHER> 130,464
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 119,598,658
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 39,000,000
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,926,057
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 40,926,057
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 94,473,867
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6,306,667
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6,306,667
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 871,805
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (4,628,523)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (12,044,548)
<NET-ASSETS> 78,672,601
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 132,921
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,886,164
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 822,233
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,196,852
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (936,847)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (6,154,820)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (1,894,815)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (5,084,750)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (6,979,565)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 759,704
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (3,691,676)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 658,779
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 822,233
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 82,652,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.58
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.82
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.12)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.81)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.47
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.00
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>