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000 A000000 09/30/97
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000 F000000 Y
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000 I000000 3.0.a
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001 A000000 NICHOLAS FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-1728
001 C000000 4142724650
002 A000000 700 NORTH WATER STREET, SUITE 1010
002 B000000 MILWAUKEE
002 C000000 WI
002 D010000 53202
002 D020000 4276
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005  000000 N
006  000000 N
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020 A000001 BEAR STEARNS
020 B000001 13-4946705
020 C000001     86
020 A000002 RAGEN MACKENZIE
020 B000002 91-1374280
020 C000002     83
020 A000003 STANDARD & POORS CORPORATION
020 B000003 13-2671951
020 C000003     78
020 A000004 SCOTT & STRINGFELLOW
020 B000004 54-0957557
020 C000004     68
020 A000005 MCDONALD & CO.
020 B000005 34-1391952
020 C000005     66
020 A000006 SMITH BARNEY
020 B000006 13-1912900
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<PAGE>      PAGE  2
020 A000007 WISCONSIN DISCOUNT SERVICES
020 B000007 39-1259164
020 C000007     47
020 A000008 CLEARY GULL
020 B000008 39-1567700
020 C000008     43
020 A000009 HOEFER & ARNET
020 B000009 94-2831518
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020 A000010 DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
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<PAGE>      PAGE  4
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SIGNATURE   THOMAS J. SAEGER                             
TITLE       EX VICE-PRESIDENT