WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769342
<NAME> LEGG MASON TOTAL RETURN TRUST PRIMARY SHARES
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2001
<PERIOD-START> APR-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 303175
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 340320
<RECEIVABLES> 12804
<ASSETS-OTHER> 7
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 353131
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 5988
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 939
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 6927
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 284116
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 18590
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 19829
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 720
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 13170
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 37145
<NET-ASSETS> 346204
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 4017
<INTEREST-INCOME> 837
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3530
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1324
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 14003
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (10919)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4408
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1342
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 8273
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1282
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (3017)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 496
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (27445)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 845
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 7726
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1383
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3530
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 355289
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 18.26
<PER-SHARE-NII> .06
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.43)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.97
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.95
</TABLE>
