AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1997
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
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FORM S-6
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FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933 OF SECURITIES OF UNIT INVESTMENT
TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2
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A. EXACT NAME OF TRUST:
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES INCOME FUND
US GOVERNMENT ZERO COUPON BOND SERIES 8
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
B. NAMES OF DEPOSITORS:
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
C. COMPLETE ADDRESSES OF DEPOSITORS' PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
DEFINED ASSET FUNDS
P.O. BOX 9051
PRINCETON, N.J. 08543-9051
D. NAMES AND COMPLETE ADDRESSES OF AGENTS FOR SERVICE:
TERESA KONCICK, ESQ.
P.O BOX 9051
PRINCETON, N.J. 08543-9051
E. TITLE AND AMOUNT OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED:
An indefinite number of Units of Beneficial Interest pursuant to Rule 24f-2
promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
F. PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE SECURITIES BEING
REGISTERED:
Indefinite
G. AMOUNT OF FILING FEE:
not applicable
H. APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
As soon as practicable after the acquisition and deposit of the underlying
obligations.
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
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PART II
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROSPECTUS
I. Bonding arrangements of each of the Depositors are incorporated by
reference to Item A of Part II to the Registration Statement on Form
S-6 under the Securities Act of 1933 for Municipal Investment Trust
Fund, Monthly Payment Series--573 Defined Asset Funds (Reg. No.
333-08241).
II. The date of organization of each of the Depositors is set forth in
Item B of Part II to the Registration Statement on Form S-6 under the
Securities Act of 1933 for Municipal Investment Trust Fund, Monthly
Payment Series--573 Defined Asset Funds (Reg. No. 333-08241) and is
herein incorporated by reference thereto.
III. The Charter and By-Laws of each of the Depositors are incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibits 1.3 through 1.12 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-6 under the Securities Act of 1933 for Municipal
Investment Trust Fund, Monthly Payment Series--573 Defined Asset Funds
(Reg. No. 333-08241).
IV. Information as to Officers and Directors of the Depositors has been filed
pursuant to Schedules A and D of Form BD under Rules 15b1-1 and 15b3-1
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is incorporated by
reference to the SEC filings indicated and made a part of this
Registration Statement:
SEC FILE OR
IDENTIFICATION NO.
__________________
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated 8-7221
B. The Internal Revenue Service Employer Identification Numbers of
the Sponsors and Trustee are as follows:
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated 13-5674085
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Final prospectuses from the following Series of The Government
Securities Income Fund (all of which are incorporated herein by reference)
may be used as preliminary prospectuses for this Series: USGBS2 (Reg. No.
33-25288); USGZCBS3 (Reg. No. 33-26716); USGBS4 (Reg. No. 33-31127).
CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-6 COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING PAPERS AND
DOCUMENTS:
The facing sheet of Form S-6.
The Cross-Reference Sheet (incorporated by reference to the Cross-
Reference Sheet to the Registration Statement of Defined Asset Funds
Municipal Insured Series, 1933 Act File No. 33-54565). The Prospectus.
Additional Information not included in the Prospectus (Part II). *Consent
of independent public accountants.
The following exhibits:
1.1 -- Form of Trust Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
1.1 to the Registration Statement of The Government
Securities Income Fund, GNMA Series 1Y, 1933 Act File No.
33-57873).
1.1.1 -- Form of Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust Effective
October 21, 1993 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1.1
to the Registration Statement of Municipal Investment Trust
Fund, Multistate Series-48, 1933 Act File No. 33-50247).
1.2 -- Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 1.2 to the Registration Statement
of The Corporate Income Fund, One Hundred Ninety-Fourth
Monthly Payment Series, 1933 Act File No. 2-90925).
2.1 -- Form of Certificate of Beneficial Interest (included in
Exhibit 1.1.1).
*3.1 -- Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities being
issued including their consent to the use of their
names under the headings "Taxes" and "Miscellaneous--
Legal Opinion" in the Prospectus.
*4.1 -- Consent of the Evaluator.
9.1 -- Information Supplement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
9.1 to the Registration Statement of Government Securities
Income Fund Freddie Mac Series-12, 1933 Act File No. 33-
56849).
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* To be filed with Amendment to Registration Statement.
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SIGNATURES
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE
REGISTRANT HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR AMENDMENT TO THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED
THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND STATE OF NEW YORK ON
THE 22ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1997.
Signatures appear on page R-3
A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has signed this Registration Statement
or Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Powers of Attorney
authorizing the person signing this Registration Statement or Amendment to
the Registration Statement to do so on behalf of such members.
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MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
DEPOSITOR
By the following persons, who constitute a Powers of Attorney have been
majority of the Board of Directors of filed under Form SE and
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith the following 1933 Act
Incorporated: File Number: 33-43466
HERBERT M. ALLISON, JR.
BARRY S. FRIEDBERG
EDWARD L. GOLDBERG
STEPHEN L. HAMMERMAN
JEROME P. KENNEY
DAVID H. KOMANSKY
DANIEL T. NAPOLI
THOMAS H. PATRICK
JOHN L. STEFFENS
DANIEL P. TULLY
ROGER M. VASEY
ARTHUR H. ZEIKEL
By ERNEST V. FABIO
(As authorized signatory for
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
and Attorney-in-fact for the persons listed above)
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