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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950123-98-003973.txt : 19980421
<SEC-HEADER>0000950123-98-003973.hdr.sgml : 19980421
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950123-98-003973
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	497J
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		19980420
SROS:			NONE

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000836412
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	 []
		IRS NUMBER:				133474242
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		497J
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-47371
		FILM NUMBER:		98597277

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125100360

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5 HANOVER SQUARE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10004
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>497J
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1
                      THE ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
                               900 THIRD AVENUE
                           NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
                                (212) 451-1100



                                                                 April 20, 1998



VIA EDGAR


Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549


             Re:  The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc.
                  Securities Act File No. 333-47371
                  Investment Company Act File No. 811-5620
                  Rule 497(j) Certification
                  ----------------------------------------



Dear Commissioners:

        In lieu of filing with the Commission its definitive Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information dated April 14, 1998, as otherwise required
by Rule 497(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, The Zweig Total Return Fund, 
Inc. hereby certifies that:

        (1)  the form of Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
             that would have been filed under Rule 497(c) would not have 
             differed from that contained in Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to 
             its registration statement on Form N-2 ("Amendment No. 2") as 
             filed with the Commission on April 14, 1998; and 

        (2)  the text of Amendment No. 2 has been filed with the Commission
             electronically.




                                                         Sincerely,


                                                         /s/ Jeffrey Lazar
                                                         Jeffrey Lazar
                                                         Vice President
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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