<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information
extracted from Standish, Ayer & Wood Investment Trust
form N-SAR for the six months ended June 30, 2000
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 171
<NAME> Standish World High Yield Fund
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 31,586,595
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 14,071
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 31,600,666
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 463,859
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 463,859
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 39,010,498
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,839,109
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,790,097
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 289,091
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (4,304,079)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (3,858,703)
<NET-ASSETS> 31,136,807
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 31,465
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,541,725
<OTHER-INCOME> (38,843)
<EXPENSES-NET> 230
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,534,117
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (182,398)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,088,932)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 262,787
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,086,601)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 40,056
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,575)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 10,531
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1,184)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (158,425)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (4,121,681)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 33,230
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 31,022,949
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.39
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.85
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.71)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.60)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.93
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.25
</TABLE>
