<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 08/31/1999
000 C000000 0000769566
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 6.1
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 MERRILL LYNCH CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-4311
001 C000000 6092822800
002 A000000 P.O. BOX 9011
002 B000000 PRINCETON
002 C000000 NJ
002 D010000 08543
002 D020000 9011
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 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-11583
008 D010001 PRINCETON
008 D020001 NJ
008 D030001 08543
008 D040001 9011
008 A000002 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT U.K., LTD.
008 B000002 S
008 C000002 801-31780
008 D010002 LONDON
008 D050002 ENGLAND
008 D060002 EC24 9LY
012 A000001 FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
012 B000001 84-01339
012 C010001 JACKSONVILLE
012 C020001 FL
012 C030001 32246
<PAGE> PAGE 2
012 C040001 6484
013 A000001 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B010001 PRINCETON
013 B020001 NJ
013 B030001 08540
014 A000001 MLPF&S AND OTHER ML BROKER/DEALER AFFILIATES
014 B000001 8-7221
015 A000001 THE STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02101
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000002 S
015 C010002 NEW YORK
015 C020002 NY
015 C030002 10286
015 E010002 X
015 A000003 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B000003 S
015 C010003 NEW YORK
015 C020003 NY
015 C030003 10006
015 E010003 X
015 A000004 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
015 B000004 S
015 C010004 NEW YORK
015 C020004 NY
015 C030004 10017
015 E010004 X
015 A000005 CUSTODIAL TRUST CO.
015 B000005 S
015 C010005 NEW YORK
015 C020005 NY
015 C030005 10167
015 E010005 X
015 A000006 MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST CO. OF NEW YORK
015 B000006 S
015 C010006 NEW YORK
015 C020006 NY
015 C030006 10260
015 E010006 X
015 A000007 DELETE
015 A000008 DELETE
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 226
019 C000000 MERRILLLYN
020 A000001 INSTINET CORPORATION
020 B000001 13-3443395
<PAGE> PAGE 3
020 C000001 16
020 A000002 MCMAHAN SECURITIES CO. L.P.
020 B000002 06-1229141
020 C000002 13
020 A000003 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
020 B000003 11-2418191
020 C000003 5
020 A000004 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES INC.
020 B000004 13-3224016
020 C000004 4
020 A000005 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
020 B000005 13-5108880
020 C000005 2
020 A000006 CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
020 B000006 13-2798343
020 C000006 2
020 A000007 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
020 B000007 13-5659485
020 C000007 2
020 A000008 MONTGOMERY SECURITIES
020 B000008 94-1701676
020 C000008 1
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 45
022 A000001 GENERAL MOTORS ACCEPTANCE CORP.
022 C000001 216812
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
022 C000002 134020
022 D000002 0
022 A000003 FORD MOTOR CREDIT CORP.
022 C000003 67150
022 D000003 0
022 A000004 HSBC SECURITIES (U.S.A.) INC.
022 B000004 13-2650272
022 C000004 43125
022 D000004 0
022 A000005 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000005 13-5108880
022 C000005 17359
022 D000005 9112
022 A000006 MCMAHAN SECURITIES CO. L.P.
022 B000006 06-1229141
022 C000006 5505
022 D000006 18005
022 A000007 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER & CO.
022 B000007 13-2655998
022 C000007 7803
022 D000007 5340
022 A000008 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
<PAGE> PAGE 4
022 B000008 13-2518466
022 C000008 4331
022 D000008 8349
022 A000009 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES INC.
022 B000009 13-3224016
022 C000009 4523
022 D000009 5297
022 A000010 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
022 B000010 13-5659485
022 C000010 1166
022 D000010 7230
023 C000000 541868
023 D000000 75820
024 000000 N
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
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 149
028 A020000 0
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 3727
028 B010000 344
028 B020000 281
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 3664
028 C010000 125
028 C020000 0
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 3308
028 D010000 183
028 D020000 0
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 1617
028 E010000 221
028 E020000 236
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 2180
028 F010000 228
028 F020000 0
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 2488
028 G010000 1250
028 G020000 517
028 G030000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
028 G040000 16984
028 H000000 379
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 8
030 B000000 5.25
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 5
031 B000000 0
032 000000 0
033 000000 3
034 000000 Y
035 000000 66
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 100
042 D000000 0
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 252
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.600
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
<PAGE> PAGE 6
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 0
048 K020000 0.000
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 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 Y
054 N000000 N
055 A000000 Y
055 B000000 N
056 000000 Y
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 N
060 B000000 N
061 000000 0
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 1.5
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 32.5
062 Q000000 6.1
062 R000000 58.6
063 A000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 7
063 B000000 6.7
064 A000000 N
066 A000000 Y
066 G000000 Y
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 N
070 B010000 N
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 N
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 N
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 N
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 Y
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 Y
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 Y
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 Y
070 R020000 Y
071 A000000 59998
071 B000000 84787
071 C000000 70235
071 D000000 85
072 A000000 12
072 B000000 2164
072 C000000 1697
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 442
072 G000000 88
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 132
072 J000000 27
072 K000000 0
072 L000000 57
072 M000000 46
072 N000000 45
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 43
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 41
072 S000000 41
072 T000000 252
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 18
072 X000000 1232
072 Y000000 0
072 Z000000 2629
072AA000000 6893
072BB000000 10934
072CC010000 7203
072CC020000 0
072DD010000 3485
072DD020000 1323
072EE000000 39
073 A010000 0.0000
073 A020000 0.0000
073 B000000 0.0000
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 765
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 912
074 D000000 22979
074 E000000 22772
074 F000000 12079
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 164
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 440
074 M000000 24
074 N000000 60135
074 O000000 0
074 P000000 49
074 Q000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 6
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 588
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 59492
074 U010000 3539
074 U020000 1526
074 V010000 0.00
074 V020000 0.00
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 5021
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 73659
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 O000000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A000000 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.
080 C000000 450
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 146
082 A000000 N
082 B000000 0
083 A000000 N
083 B000000 0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000 0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
SIGNATURE DONALD C. BURKE
TITLE TREASURER
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769566
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 59199139
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 58739305
<RECEIVABLES> 603541
<ASSETS-OTHER> 788961
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 60131807
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 640219
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 640219
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 64157235
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3162284
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4522270
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 207081
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (4458402)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (414326)
<NET-ASSETS> 37141490
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1696732
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2164391
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1232044)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2629079
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (4040535)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 7203219
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5791763
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (3109143)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (23131)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 87781
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1547522)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 99755
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (29042493)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2510665
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (503861)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 441782
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 43182
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1232044
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 44211067
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.59
<PER-SHARE-NII> .45
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .51
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.79)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.01)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.75
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.32
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769566
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 59199139
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 58739305
<RECEIVABLES> 603541
<ASSETS-OTHER> 788961
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 60131807
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 640219
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 640219
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 64157235
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1258175
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2072575
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 207081
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (4458402)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (414326)
<NET-ASSETS> 14773657
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1696732
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2164391
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1232044)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2629079
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (4040535)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 7203219
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5791763
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1077140)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (10558)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 115605
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1001163)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 71158
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (29042493)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2510665
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (503861)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 441782
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 43182
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1232044
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 19468581
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.53
<PER-SHARE-NII> .34
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .49
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.61)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.01)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.74
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.35
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769566
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 59199139
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 58739305
<RECEIVABLES> 603541
<ASSETS-OTHER> 788961
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 60131807
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 640219
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 640219
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 64157235
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 267628
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 445454
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 207081
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (4458402)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (414326)
<NET-ASSETS> 3141149
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1696732
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2164391
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1232044)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2629079
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (4040535)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 7203219
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5791763
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (245610)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (2358)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 30898
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (223804)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 15080
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (29042493)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2510665
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (503861)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 441782
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 43182
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1232044
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 4286063
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.54
<PER-SHARE-NII> .34
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .49
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.62)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.01)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.74
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.35
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769566
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 004
<NAME> CLASS D
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 59199139
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 58739305
<RECEIVABLES> 603541
<ASSETS-OTHER> 788961
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 60131807
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 640219
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 640219
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 64157235
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 376610
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 609107
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 207081
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (4458402)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (414326)
<NET-ASSETS> 4435292
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1696732
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2164391
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1232044)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2629079
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (4040535)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 7203219
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5791763
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (375748)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (2981)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 58189
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (316367)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 25681
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (29042493)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2510665
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (503861)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 441782
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 43182
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1232044
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 5693063
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.61
<PER-SHARE-NII> .43
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .50
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.75)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.01)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.78
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.57
</TABLE>
