<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM MESA OFFSHORE TRUST AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                       1,835,590
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    6,200
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,841,790
<PP&E>                                     380,905,000
<DEPRECIATION>                             379,842,595
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,904,595
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,062,405
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,904,195
<SALES>                                         36,014
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                51,805
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                51,803
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      0
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                         0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      0.0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      0.0