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000 A000000 09/30/96
000 C000000 0000071958
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 NICHOLAS FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-1728
001 C000000 4142724650
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002 B000000 MILWAUKEE
002 C000000 WI
002 D010000 53202
002 D020000 4276
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020 A000001 BEAR STEARNS
020 B000001 13-4946705
020 C000001     96
020 A000002 KAYNE ANDERSON & CO.
020 B000002 95-3901352
020 C000002     83
020 A000003 WISCONSIN DISCOUNT SERVICES
020 B000003 3912591648
020 C000003     73
020 A000004 HOEFER & ARNET
020 B000004 94-2831518
020 C000004     61
020 A000005 DOWLING & PARTNERS
020 B000005 06-1400223
020 C000005     53
020 A000006 SMITH BARNEY/LITTEL
020 B000006 13-1912900
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<PAGE>      PAGE  2
020 A000007 S&P CORPORATION
020 B000007 13-2671951
020 C000007     43
020 A000008 DONALDSON, LUFKIN,JENRETTE
020 B000008 13-2741729
020 C000008     34
020 A000009 INSTINET
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020 A000010 PIPER JAFFRAY HOPWOOD
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SIGNATURE   THOMAS J. SAEGER                             
TITLE       EX VICE-PRESIDENT