PAGE  1
000 B000000 12/31/2003
000 C000000 0000040417
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000 F000000 Y
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000 I000000 6.1
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS COMPANY, INC.
001 B000000 811-41
001 C000000 2129168400
002 A000000 450 LEXINGTON AVENUE - SUITE 3300
002 B000000 NEW YORK
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002 D010000 10017
002 D020000 3911
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
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015 A000001 STATE STREET CORPORATION
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 NEW YORK
015 C020001 NY
015 C030001 10281
015 C040001 1008
015 E010001 X
020 A000001 MORGAN STANLEY
020 B000001 13-2655998
020 C000001     99
020 A000002 BERNSTEIN (SANFORD C.) & CO.,INC.
020 B000002 13-2625874
020 C000002     54
020 A000003 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
020 B000003 13-5674085
020 C000003     47
020 A000004 KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS INC.
020 B000004 13-1964616
020 C000004     47
020 A000005 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
020 B000005 13-5108880
020 C000005     47
020 A000006 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
020 B000006 13-2518466
020 C000006     44
020 A000007 FOX-PITT, KELTON INCORPORATED
020 B000007 06-1058201
020 C000007     43
      PAGE  2
020 A000008 UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
020 B000008 13-2638166
020 C000008     43
020 A000009 J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
020 B000009 13-3224016
020 C000009     41
020 A000010 BEAR, STEARNS & CO.,INC.
020 B000010 13-3299429
020 C000010     40
021  000000      713
022 A000001 DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
022 B000001 13-2730828
022 C000001    191671
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022 A000002 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
022 B000002 13-5659485
022 C000002        50
022 D000002      1800
022 A000003 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000003 13-5108880
022 C000003       308
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022 A000004 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
022 B000004 13-2518466
022 C000004       298
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022 A000009 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORP
022 B000009 13-5674085
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      PAGE  3
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      PAGE  4
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      PAGE  5
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      PAGE  6
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087 A010000 COMMON STOCK, $1 PAR VALUE
087 A020000 368802104
087 A030000 GAM
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087 B020000 368802401
087 B030000 GAMPR B
088 A000000 N
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SIGNATURE   EUGENE L. DESTAEBLER, JR.
TITLE       V.P., ADMINISTRATION