<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> Hercules Incorporated 3Q97 10-Q </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 23,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 388,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 236,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 683,000 <PP&E> 2,057,000 <DEPRECIATION> 1,392,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,497,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 700,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 80,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 711,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,497,000 <SALES> 1,445,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,445,000 <CGS> 905,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,300,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 28,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 511,000 <INCOME-TAX> 246,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 265,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 265,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.62 <EPS-DILUTED> 0