<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 10/31/97
000 C000000 0000894089
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 THE JPM PIERPONT FUNDS
001 B000000 811-7340
001 C000000 6175570700
002 A000000 60 STATE STREET SUITE 1300
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 20
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 70
019 C00AA00 JPM/PIERPO
020 C000001 0
020 C000002 0
020 C000003 0
020 C000004 0
020 C000005 0
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 0
022 A000001 THE FEDERAL MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
022 B000001 04-3174352
022 C000001 2065113
022 D000001 2019613
022 A000002 THE SHORT TERM BOND PORTFOLIO
022 B000002 04-3194467
022 C000002 10364
022 D000002 4588
022 A000003 THE U.S. FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO
022 B000003 04-3194464
022 C000003 65618
022 D000003 57683
022 A000004 THE INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
022 B000004 04-3194416
<PAGE> PAGE 2
022 C000004 34549
022 D000004 96801
022 A000005 THE EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY PORTFOLIO
022 B000005 04-3194471
022 C000005 25424
022 D000005 38495
022 C000006 0
022 D000006 0
022 C000007 0
022 D000007 0
022 C000008 0
022 D000008 0
022 C000009 0
022 D000009 0
022 C000010 0
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 2201068
023 D000000 2217180
062 A00AA00 N
062 B00AA00 0.0
062 C00AA00 0.0
062 D00AA00 0.0
062 E00AA00 0.0
062 F00AA00 0.0
062 G00AA00 0.0
062 H00AA00 0.0
062 I00AA00 0.0
062 J00AA00 0.0
062 K00AA00 0.0
062 L00AA00 0.0
062 M00AA00 0.0
062 N00AA00 0.0
062 O00AA00 0.0
062 P00AA00 0.0
062 Q00AA00 0.0
062 R00AA00 0.0
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 3
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 Y
077 Q020000 N
077 Q030000 N
078 000000 N
080 A00AA00 GULF
080 C00AA00 25000
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 19
082 A00AA00 Y
082 B00AA00 25
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
058 A000100 N
059 000100 Y
060 A000100 Y
060 B000100 Y
061 000100 2500
071 A000100 0
071 B000100 0
071 C000100 0
071 D000100 0
072 A000100 12
074 N000100 239531
074 T000100 239074
075 A000100 220305
075 B000100 0
028 A010200 130
028 A020200 40
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 15
028 B010200 512
028 B020200 42
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 94
028 C010200 1444
028 C020200 46
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 361
028 D010200 1187
028 D020200 52
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 104
028 E010200 246
028 E020200 53
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 364
<PAGE> PAGE 4
028 F010200 388
028 F020200 54
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 32
028 G010200 3907
028 G020200 287
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 970
028 H000200 0
058 A000200 N
059 000200 Y
060 A000200 Y
060 B000200 Y
061 000200 2500
071 A000200 0
071 B000200 0
071 C000200 0
071 D000200 0
072 A000200 12
072 B000200 0
072 C000200 0
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 777
072 F000200 0
072 G000200 5
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 25
072 J000200 0
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 12
072 M000200 0
072 N000200 17
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 0
072 R000200 11
072 S000200 0
072 T000200 0
072 U000200 6
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 27
072 X000200 103
072 Y000200 72
072 Z000200 746
072AA000200 26
072BB000200 0
072CC010200 0
072CC020200 44
072DD010200 746
072DD020200 0
072EE000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
073 A010200 0.5800
073 A020200 0.0000
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 0
074 B000200 0
074 C000200 0
074 D000200 0
074 E000200 0
074 F000200 0
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 14540
074 J000200 0
074 K000200 6
074 L000200 20
074 M000200 4
074 N000200 14570
074 O000200 0
074 P000200 0
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 51
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 14519
074 U010200 1474
074 U020200 0
074 V010200 9.85
074 V020200 0.00
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 80
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 12559
076 000200 0.00
058 A000300 N
059 000300 Y
060 A000300 Y
060 B000300 Y
061 000300 2500
071 A000300 0
071 B000300 0
071 C000300 0
071 D000300 0
072 A000300 12
074 N000300 169430
074 T000300 169233
075 A000300 0
075 B000300 155703
<PAGE> PAGE 6
058 A000400 N
059 000400 Y
060 A000400 Y
060 B000400 Y
061 000400 2500
071 A000400 0
071 B000400 0
071 C000400 0
071 D000400 0
072 A000400 12
074 N000400 147778
074 T000400 146659
075 A000400 0
075 B000400 182214
071 A000500 0
071 B000500 0
071 C000500 0
071 D000500 0
072 A000500 12
074 N000500 45724
074 T000500 45444
075 A000500 0
075 B000500 59501
SIGNATURE RICHARD W. INGRAM
TITLE TREASURER
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains sumary financial data extracted from the annual report
dated 10/31/97 for The Pierpont International Equity Fund and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such annual report.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 147747
<RECEIVABLES> 27
<ASSETS-OTHER> 4
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 147778
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1119
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1119
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 131009
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13371
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 17642
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 3883
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 5082
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6735
<NET-ASSETS> 146659
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3443
<INTEREST-INCOME> 614
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2041
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2016
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 6944
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1417)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 7543
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 4419
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 9302
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 3087
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 8221
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 863
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (54061)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4380
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 9296
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2041
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 182214
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.38
<PER-SHARE-NII> .15
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .23
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .25
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .54
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.97
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.12
<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>
This schedule contains summary financial data extracted from the annual report
dated 10/31/97 for The JPM Pierpont Federal Money Market Fund and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such annual report.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 239510
<RECEIVABLES> 15
<ASSETS-OTHER> 6
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 239531
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 456
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 456
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 239073
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 239073
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 185318
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 239074
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 11448
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 439
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 11009
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 22
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 11031
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 11009
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 128
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2065113
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2019613
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 8255
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 53650
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 538
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 220305
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> .050
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .050
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .001
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .40
<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>
This schedule contains summary financial data extracted from the annual report
dated 10/31/97 for The JPM Pierpont Short Term Bond Fund and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such annual report.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 14540
<RECEIVABLES> 30
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 14570
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 51
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 51
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 14554
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1474
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 833
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 49
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 14
<NET-ASSETS> 14519
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 777
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 31
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 746
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 26
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (44)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 729
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 746
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 10364
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 4588
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 553
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 6313
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 75
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 103
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 12559
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.86
<PER-SHARE-NII> .58
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.01)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.58)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.85
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .50
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial data extracted from the annual report
dated October 31, 1997 for the JPM Pierpont Bond Fund and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such annual report.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 169321
<RECEIVABLES> 105
<ASSETS-OTHER> 4
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 169431
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 75
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 122
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 197
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 166032
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 16244
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 14487
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 72
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (15)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 3145
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3145
<NET-ASSETS> 169233
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 206
<INTEREST-INCOME> 10832
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1052
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 9986
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1034
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1912
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 12932
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 9936
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1045
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 6399
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 5632
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 990
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 20027
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (15)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (930)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1052
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 155703
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.30
<PER-SHARE-NII> .66
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .18
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .65
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .07
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.42
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .68
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial data extracted from the annual report
dated 10/31/97 for The JPM Pierpont Emerging Markets Equity Fund and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such annual report.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 45701
<RECEIVABLES> 3
<ASSETS-OTHER> 20
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 45724
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 280
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 280
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 52261
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4648
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5806
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 49
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (1184)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (5682)
<NET-ASSETS> 45444
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 634
<EXPENSES-NET> 265
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 369
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 4134
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (5359)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (855)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 323
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2229
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3413
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 26
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1158)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 87
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (5402)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 265
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 59501
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.18
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.08
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.42)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.78
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.65
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
December 18, 1997
To the Shareholders and Trustees of
The JPM Pierpont Short Term Bond Fund
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements of The JPM
Pierpont Short Term Bond Fund (the "Fund") for the year ended October 31, 1997,
we considered its internal control, including control activities for
safeguarding securities, in order to determine our auditing procedures for the
purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial statements and to comply with
the requirements of Form N-SAR, not to provide assurance on internal control.
The management of the Fund is responsible for establishing and maintaining
internal control. In fulfilling this responsibility, estimates and judgments by
management are required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
control activities. Generally, control activities that are relevant to an audit
pertain to the entity's objective of preparing financial statements for external
purposes that are fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles. Those control activities include the safeguarding of
assets against unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in internal control, errors or irregularities
may occur and not be detected. Also, projection of any evaluation of internal
control to future periods is subject to the risk that it may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions or that the effectiveness of the design and
operation may deteriorate.
Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily disclose all matters
in internal control that might be material weaknesses under standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A
material weakness is a condition in which the design or operation of any
specific internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low level
the risk that errors or irregularities in amounts that would be material in
relation to the financial statements being audited may occur and not be detected
within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their
assigned functions. However, we noted no matters involving internal control,
including control activities for safeguarding securities, that we consider to be
material weaknesses as defined above as of October 31, 1997.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of management and the
Trustees of the Fund and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS TELEPHONE 212 596 7000
NEW YORK, NY 10036 FACSIMILE 212 596 8910
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP [LOGO]
December 17, 1997
To the Shareholders and Trustees of
The JPM Pierpont Federal Money Market Fund
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements of The JPM
Pierpont Federal Money Market Fund (the "Fund") for the year ended October 31,
1997, we considered its internal control, including control activities for
safeguarding securities, in order to determine our auditing procedures for the
purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial statements and to comply with
the requirements of Form N-SAR, not to provide assurance on internal control.
The management of the Fund is responsible for establishing and maintaining
internal control. In fulfilling this responsibility, estimates and judgments by
management are required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
control activities. Generally, control activities that are relevant to an audit
pertain to the entity's objective of preparing financial statements for external
purposes that are fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles. Those control activities include the safeguarding of
assets against unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in internal control, errors or irregularities
may occur and not be detected. Also, projection of any evaluation of internal
control to future periods is subject to the risk that it may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions or that the effectiveness of the design and
operation may deteriorate.
Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily disclose all matters
in internal control that might be material weaknesses under standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A
material weakness is a condition in which the design or operation of any
specific internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low level
the risk that errors or irregularities in amounts that would be material in
relation to the financial statements being audited may occur and not be detected
within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their
assigned functions. However, we noted no matters involving internal control,
including control activities for safeguarding securities, that we consider to be
material weaknesses as defined above as of October 31, 1997.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of management and the
Trustees of the Fund and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
Price Waterhouse LLP