| **EXHIBIT 31**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
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| **CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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| I, Edward M. Siegel, Jr. certify that:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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| 1.               I have reviewed this annual reporton Form 40-F of Russel Metals Inc.,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
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| 2.               Based on my knowledge, this annualreport does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statementsmade, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered bythis annual report;                  |
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| 3.               Based on my knowledge, thefinancial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects thefinancial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annualreport;                                     |
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| 4.               The registrant's other certifyingofficer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules13a -15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and for the registrant and have:                                                                                                         |
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| a)              designed such disclosure controls andprocedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant,including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period inwhich this annual report is being prepared; |
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| b)              evaluated the effectiveness of theregistrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of thedisclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and                                                     |
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| c)              disclosed in this report any change inthe Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that hasmaterially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting;and                                     |
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| 5.                 The registrant's othercertifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to theregistrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalentfunctions):                                   |
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| a)              all significant deficiencies and materialweaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affectthe registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and                                                                      |
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| b)              any fraud, whether or not material, thatinvolves management over financial reporting or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controlover financial reporting.                                                                                                                                            |
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|                                                                                                                                                           |            | */s/ Edward M. Siegel,Jr.                 * |
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| Dated: April 14,2004                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |            | Edward M. Siegel,Jr.                       |
|                                                                                                                                                                               |            | President and Chief Executive Officer    |
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| **CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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| I, Brian R. Hedges, certify that:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
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| 1.               I have reviewed this annual reporton Form 40-F of Russel Metals Inc.,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
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| 2.               Based on my knowledge, this annualreport does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statementsmade, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered bythis annual report;                  |
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| 3.               Based on my knowledge, thefinancial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects thefinancial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annualreport;                                     |
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| 4.               The registrant's other certifyingofficer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules13a -15(e) and 15(d)-15(e)) for the registrant and have:                                                                                                           |
|                                                                                                                                                                     |
| a)              designed such disclosure controls andprocedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant,including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period inwhich this annual report is being prepared; |
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| b)              evaluated the effectiveness of theregistrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of thedisclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and                                                     |
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| c)              disclosed in this report any change inthe Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that hasmaterially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting;and                                     |
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| 5.                 The registrant's othercertifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to theregistrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalentfunctions):                                   |
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| a)              all significant deficiencies and materialweaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affectthe registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and                                                                      |
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| b)              any fraud, whether or not material, thatinvolves management over financial reporting or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controlover financial reporting.                                                                                                                                            |
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|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |           | */s/ Brian R.Hedges*             |
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| Dated:  April 14, 2004                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |           | Brian R.Hedges            |
|                                                                                                                                                           |           | Executive Vice President & |
|                                                                                                                                                           |  | Chief Financial Officer          |
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