<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MESA
ROYALTY TRUST 1997 THIRD REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 1997 THIRD QUARTER REPORT ON FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
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<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   20,908
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<DEPRECIATION>                              26,612,424
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<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,704,494
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