<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> HERCULES INCORPORATED 10Q98 </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 108,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 390,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 245,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 792,000 <PP&E> 2,098,000 <DEPRECIATION> 1,407,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,536,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 917,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 81,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 549,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,536,000 <SALES> 430,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 430,000 <CGS> 262,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 74,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 44,000 <INCOME-TAX> 16,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 28,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 28,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .29 <EPS-DILUTED> .29