<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 01/31/98
000 C000000 0000081259
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 THE GEORGE PUTNAM FUND OF BOSTON
001 B000000 811-58
001 C000000 6172921000
002 A000000 ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
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 PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-7974
008 D010001 BOSTON
008 D020001 MA
008 D030001 02109
011 A000001 PUTNAM MUTUAL FUNDS CORP.
011 B000001 8-5088
011 C010001 BOSTON
011 C020001 MA
011 C030001 02109
012 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES
012 B000001 84-401299
012 C010001 BOSTON
012 C020001 MA
012 C030001 02109
013 A000001 PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
013 B010001 BOSTON
013 B020001 MA
<PAGE> PAGE 2
013 B030001 02110
015 A000001 PUTNAM FIDUCIARY TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02109
015 E010001 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 94
019 C000000 PUTNAMFUND
020 A000001 BEAR STERNS & CO.
020 B000001 13-4946705
020 C000001 251
020 A000002 EDWARDS (A.G.) & SONS, INC.
020 B000002 43-0895477
020 C000002 245
020 A000003 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
020 B000003 13-5659485
020 C000003 181
020 A000004 PAINEWEBBER INC.
020 B000004 13-2638166
020 C000004 156
020 A000005 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
020 B000005 13-5108880
020 C000005 148
020 A000006 DEUTSCHE MORGAN GRENFELL
020 C000006 145
020 A000007 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
020 C000007 112
020 A000008 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
020 C000008 85
020 A000009 BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
020 B000009 13-4973745
020 C000009 68
020 A000010 H D VEST INVESTMENT
020 C000010 66
021 000000 2763
022 A000001 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000001 13-2518466
022 C000001 6646942
022 D000001 638009
022 A000002 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
022 B000002 13-5108880
022 C000002 906108
022 D000002 124658
022 A000003 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES INC.
022 B000003 13-3224016
022 C000003 455510
022 D000003 71144
022 A000004 SALOMON BROTHERS, INC.
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 B000004 13-3082694
022 C000004 221111
022 D000004 280461
022 A000005 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER, SMITH, INC.
022 B000005 13-5674085
022 C000005 300177
022 D000005 198594
022 A000006 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
022 C000006 167067
022 D000006 108066
022 A000007 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
022 C000007 117385
022 D000007 61098
022 A000008 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
022 C000008 76351
022 D000008 55707
022 A000009 UBS SECURITIES
022 B000009 13-2932996
022 C000009 77879
022 D000009 18217
022 A000010 DEUTSCHE MORGAN GRENFELL
022 C000010 68861
022 D000010 18900
023 C000000 9370326
023 D000000 1843187
024 000000 N
025 D000001 0
025 D000002 0
025 D000003 0
025 D000004 0
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 Y
026 G020000 Y
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 166563
028 A020000 27861
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 112791
028 B010000 125833
028 B020000 0
028 B030000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
028 B040000 60252
028 C010000 171961
028 C020000 2
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 103409
028 D010000 126180
028 D020000 288516
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 56823
028 E010000 217175
028 E020000 -5
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 90023
028 F010000 299390
028 F020000 34
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 72427
028 G010000 1107102
028 G020000 316408
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 495725
028 H000000 1107102
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 946
030 B000000 5.75
030 C000000 3.50
031 A000000 935
031 B000000 0
032 000000 11
033 000000 0
034 000000 Y
035 000000 524
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 9097
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 5
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 500000
048 A020000 0.650
048 B010000 500000
048 B020000 0.550
048 C010000 500000
048 C020000 0.500
048 D010000 5000000
048 D020000 0.450
048 E010000 5000000
048 E020000 0.425
048 F010000 5000000
048 F020000 0.405
048 G010000 5000000
048 G020000 0.390
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 21500000
048 K020000 0.380
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 Y
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 N
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 Y
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 Y
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056 000000 N
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 6
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 500
062 A000000 N
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 0.0
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 0.0
062 Q000000 0.0
062 R000000 0.0
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 0.0
066 A000000 Y
066 B000000 N
066 C000000 N
066 D000000 N
066 E000000 Y
066 F000000 N
066 G000000 N
067 000000 Y
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 Y
070 B010000 Y
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 Y
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 Y
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 Y
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 Y
070 G020000 Y
070 H010000 Y
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 Y
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 N
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 Y
070 R020000 Y
071 A000000 3389583
071 B000000 2732938
071 C000000 4127542
071 D000000 66
072 A000000 6
072 B000000 55490
072 C000000 31387
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 10748
072 G000000 17
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 4806
072 J000000 160
072 K000000 122
072 L000000 122
072 M000000 29
072 N000000 288
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 48
072 S000000 17
072 T000000 9097
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 104
072 X000000 25558
072 Y000000 0
072 Z000000 61319
072AA000000 189198
072BB000000 0
072CC010000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072CC020000 111622
072DD010000 42244
072DD020000 11691
072EE000000 173044
073 A010000 0.3000
073 A020000 0.2340
073 B000000 1.2100
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 4898
074 B000000 88514
074 C000000 146976
074 D000000 1566985
074 E000000 26123
074 F000000 3047687
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 2621
074 J000000 102706
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 51619
074 M000000 0
074 N000000 5038129
074 O000000 203576
074 P000000 8966
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 57954
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 4767633
074 U010000 168741
074 U020000 59162
074 V010000 18.03
074 V020000 17.89
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 155784
074 Y000000 4962
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 4285928
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 N
078 000000 N
080 A000000 FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANY
080 B000000 NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C000000 50000
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 93
082 A000000 N
082 B000000 0
083 A000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 9
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
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
SIGNATURE PAUL BUCUVALAS
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
The George Putnam Fund of Boston
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 4,330,934,891
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 4,878,905,602
<RECEIVABLES> 154,325,329
<ASSETS-OTHER> 4,897,610
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,038,128,541
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 203,575,756
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 66,919,939
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 270,495,695
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4,112,441,254
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 168,741,230
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 137,611,000
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,276,478
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 105,934,223
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 546,980,891
<NET-ASSETS> 4,767,632,846
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 31,387,151
<INTEREST-INCOME> 55,490,065
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 25,558,454
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 61,318,762
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 189,197,906
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (111,622,333)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 138,894,335
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (42,244,192)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (173,044,313)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 39,262,824
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (19,290,712)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 11,158,118
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 727,678,716
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,134,739
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 192,561,000
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,747,956
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 26,118,901
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,730,589,573
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 18.95
<PER-SHARE-NII> .29
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .30
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.51)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 18.03
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .52
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
The George Putnam Fund of Boston
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 4,330,934,891
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 4,878,905,602
<RECEIVABLES> 154,325,329
<ASSETS-OTHER> 4,897,610
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,038,128,541
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 203,575,756
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 66,919,939
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 270,495,695
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4,112,441,254
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 59,161,748
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 47,221,035
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,276,478
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 105,934,223
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 546,980,891
<NET-ASSETS> 4,767,632,846
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 31,387,151
<INTEREST-INCOME> 55,490,065
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 25,558,454
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 61,318,762
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 189,197,906
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (111,622,333)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 138,894,335
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (11,690,658)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (63,051,881)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 12,312,776
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (4,337,307)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,965,244
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 727,678,716
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,134,739
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 192,561,000
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,747,956
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 26,118,901
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 961,905,941
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 18.82
<PER-SHARE-NII> .22
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .29
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.44)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.89
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .90
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
The George Putnam Fund of Boston
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS M
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 4,330,934,891
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 4,878,905,602
<RECEIVABLES> 154,325,329
<ASSETS-OTHER> 4,897,610
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,038,128,541
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 203,575,756
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 66,919,939
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 270,495,695
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4,112,441,254
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13,682,622
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 9,963,033
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,276,478
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 105,934,223
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 546,980,891
<NET-ASSETS> 4,767,632,846
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 31,387,151
<INTEREST-INCOME> 55,490,065
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 25,558,454
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 61,318,762
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 189,197,906
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (111,622,333)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 138,894,335
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2,851,549)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (14,635,375)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,017,332
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,219,963)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 922,230
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 727,678,716
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,134,739
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 192,561,000
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,747,956
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 26,118,901
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 211,703,584
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 18.82
<PER-SHARE-NII> .25
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .29
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.47)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.89
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .77
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
The George Putnam Fund of Boston
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS Y
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 4,330,934,891
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 4,878,905,602
<RECEIVABLES> 154,325,329
<ASSETS-OTHER> 4,897,610
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,038,128,541
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 203,575,756
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 66,919,939
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 270,495,695
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4,112,441,254
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 23,418,125
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 18,772,462
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,276,478
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 105,934,223
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 546,980,891
<NET-ASSETS> 4,767,632,846
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 31,387,151
<INTEREST-INCOME> 55,490,065
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 25,558,454
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 61,318,762
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 189,197,906
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (111,622,333)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 138,894,335
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (6,390,624)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (25,075,114)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,986,195
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,104,996)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,764,464
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 727,678,716
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4,134,739
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 192,561,000
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,747,956
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 26,118,901
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 381,729,143
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 18.98
<PER-SHARE-NII> .31
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .30
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.53)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 18.06
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .40
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
