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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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SIGNATURE EUGENE S. STARK
TITLE TREASURER
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000876173
<NAME> THE BLACKROCK GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> BLACKROCK GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST (CLASS A)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-END> Dec-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 47,286,993
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 43,962,013
<RECEIVABLES> 393,275
<ASSETS-OTHER> 568,544
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 44,923,832
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 500,979
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 10,797,925
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 11,298,904
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 41,065,214
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,599,029
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3,998,674
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (159,020)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (3,977,271)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (3,303,995)
<NET-ASSETS> 33,624,928
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,561,631
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 636,430
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 925,201
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (184,575)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 436,473
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,177,099
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (925,201)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> (16,766)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 968,490
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (5,268,725)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 575,183
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (3,489,920)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (3,792,695)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (3,740,468)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 89,291
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 360,351
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 636,430
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 35,300,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.28
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.27
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.04
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.25)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.34
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.54
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
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<CIK> 0000876173
<NAME> THE BLACKROCK GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
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<NAME> BLACKROCK GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST (CLASS C)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-END> Dec-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 47,286,993
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 43,962,013
<RECEIVABLES> 393,275
<ASSETS-OTHER> 568,544
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
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<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 500,979
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
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<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 11,298,904
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,599,029
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3,998,674
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (3,977,271)
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<OTHER-INCOME> 0
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> (16,766)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 968,490
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (5,268,725)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 575,183
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (3,489,920)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (3,792,695)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (3,740,468)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 89,291
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 360,351
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 636,430
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 35,300,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.28
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.27
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.04
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.25)
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<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.34
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.54
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
For the semi-annual period ended (a) 12/31/96
File File number (c)811-6334
SUB-ITEM 77C
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
EXHIBITS
A special Meeting of Shareholders was called
for October 30, 1996. At such meeting the
shareholders approved the following proposals:
1) Approval that Eugene C. Dorsey, Douglas
H. McCorkindale, Thomas T. Mooney and
Richard A. Redeker are duly elected to
serve as Trustees of the Trust until the
earlier to occur of (i) the next meeting
of Shareholders at which Trustees are
elected and until his or her successor
shall have been duly elected and shall
have qualified or (ii) their terms
expire in accordance with the Trustee's
retirement policy.
Affirmative
Votes Cast
Votes Withheld
Eugene C. Dorsey 1,871,016
76,359
Douglas H. McCorkindale 1,871,016
76,359
Thomas T. Mooney 1,868,902
76,473
Richard A. Redeker 1,870,379
76,995
2) Approval of the elimination of a
fundamental investment restriction of
the Trust relating to unseasoned
issuers, as described in the Fund's
proxy statement.
For Against
Abstain
1,509,184 166,137
157,946
3) Approval of the selection of Deloitte &
Touche LLP as independent accountants
for the Trust conditioned upon the right
by vote of a majority of such Trust's
outstanding voting shares at any meeting
called for the purpose to terminate such
employment forthwith without penalties.
For Against
Abstain
1,827,808 28,633
90,934
For the semi-annual period ended (a) 12/31/96
File number (c)811-6334
SUB-ITEM 77 D
Policies with Respect to Securities Investments
On October 30, 1996, the Shareholders
approved an investment policy modification
eliminating the Fund's fundamental investment
restriction relating to investment in securities
of unseasoned issuers, as described in the Fund's
proxy statement.
n-sar/bgit-97/77d
