UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

               Before the
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
- --------------------------------------------

In the Matter of

NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY                                TWENTY-FIRST
NATIONAL FUEL RESOURCES, INC.                            CERTIFICATE
                                                         PURSUANT TO
File No. 70-7833                                         RULE 24

(Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935)	

In accordance with the terms of the Order dated December 20, 1991
issued to National Fuel Gas Company ("National") authorizing National to acquire the common stock of National Fuel Resources, Inc. ("NFR") (File No. 70-7833, HCAR No. 35-25437), attached as Exhibit "A" is an Income Statement of NFR for the Six and Twelve Months ended March 31, 1997. Also attached as Exhibit "B" is the Balance sheet of NFR as of March 31, 1997.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned companies have duly caused this Certificate to be signed this 9th day of May, 1997.
NATIONAL FUEL RESOURCES, INC.

By:  /s/ R. J. Kreppel
   ----------------------------------
   R. J. Kreppel, President	

NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY

By:  /s/ G. T. Wehrlin
   ----------------------------------
   G. T. Wehrlin, Controller	

Exhibit A - File No. 70-7833
NATIONAL FUEL RESOURCES, INC.
INCOME STATEMENT
 (Unaudited)

                                              Six Months      Twelve Months
                                                Ended             Ended
                                              March 1997        March 1997
                                            --------------   ---------------

Operating Revenues:
  Gas - Retail                                 $29,848,265       $49,573,925
  Gas - Wholesale                               14,074,232        17,814,206
  Other                                          1,748,089         2,852,292
                                               -----------       -----------
                                                45,670,586        70,240,423
                                               -----------       -----------

Operating Expenses:
  Purchase Gas                                  43,328,231        66,049,377
  General & Administrative                         931,666         1,809,990
  Depreciation, Depletion & Amortization             7,573            14,063
  Franchise & Other Taxes                          216,898           151,526
                                               -----------       -----------
                                                44,484,368        68,024,957
                                               -----------       -----------

Operating Income                                 1,186,218         2,215,467
                                               -----------       -----------

Interest Income                                    229,187           526,965
Interest Expense                                    13,518            22,487
                                               -----------       -----------
                                                   215,669           504,478
                                               -----------       -----------

Net Income (Loss) Before Tax                     1,401,888         2,719,945
                                               -----------       -----------

Income Taxes:
  Federal                                          577,063         1,349,885
  State                                             49,848           116,399
  Deferred                                        (107,816)         (449,851)
                                               -----------       -----------
                                                   519,095         1,016,433
                                               -----------       -----------

Net Income                                     $   882,793       $ 1,703,512
                                               ===========       ===========	

EXHIBIT B - FILE NO. 70-7833
NATIONAL FUEL RESOURCES, INC.
BALANCE SHEET
AT MARCH 31, 1997
 (Unaudited)
ASSETS

  Current Assets:
  Cash                                      $ 1,626,883
  Short Term Investments                      4,845,020
  Accounts Receivable                         9,284,244
  Accounts Receivable-Interco                     7,193
  Reserve for Bad Debts                        (540,952)
  Other Current Assets                        1,007,277
                                            -----------
                                             16,229,665
                                            -----------

Property, Plant, and Equipment
  Furniture and Fixtures                         68,582
  Less - Accumulated DD&A                       (34,881)
                                            -----------
                                                 33,701
                                            -----------

Other Assets:
  Long Term Investments                       1,255,979
  Other Deferred Debits                         132,251
                                            -----------
                                              1,388,230
                                            -----------

                                            $17,651,596
                                            ===========

LIABILITIES
Current Liabilities:
  Accounts Payable                          $ 6,208,499
  Accrued Liabilities                           617,994
  Current Income Taxes-Federal                 (508,781)
  Current Income Taxes-State                      5,047
  Accounts Payable-Intercompany               1,318,869
  Dividends Payable                              35,000
                                            -----------
                                              7,676,628
                                            -----------

Long Term Liabilities:
  Deferred Income Taxes                        (661,850)
  Miscellaneous Deferred Credits                589,122
                                            -----------
                                                (72,728)
                                            -----------

Stockholder's Equity:
  Common Stock                                   10,000
  Capital Paid in Excess of Par               3,490,000
  Retained Earnings                           6,792,696
  Retained Earnings - Dividends                (245,000)
                                            -----------
  Total Equity                               10,047,696
                                            -----------

                                            $17,651,596
                                            ===========