<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM HERCULES INCORPORATED'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 46,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 694,000 <ALLOWANCES> 12,000 <INVENTORY> 418,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,228,000 <PP&E> 2,980,000 <DEPRECIATION> 1,600,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,783,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 988,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 81,000 <OTHER-SE> 480,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,783,000 <SALES> 791,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 791,000 <CGS> 423,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 245,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 65,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 62,000 <INCOME-TAX> 24,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 38,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 38,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .37 <EPS-DILUTED> .37