<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Swift Energy
Income  Partners  1988-C,  Ltd.'s  balance  sheet and  statement  of  operations
contained in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                         65,884
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  35,681
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               101,565
<PP&E>                                         4,790,146
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (4,352,093)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 545,693
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          7,769
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     515,816
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   545,693
<SALES>                                        61,023
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               61,801
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  29,207<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                19,003
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            19,003
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   19,003
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0
<FN>
<F1>Includes  lease  operating  expenses,  production  taxes  and  depreciation,
depletion and  amortization  expense.  Excludes general and  administrative  and
interest expense.
</FN>