UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Amendment No.: *

Name of Issuer: American Government Income Fund

Title of Class of Securities:  Common Shares, par value $.01

CUSIP Number: 025917105


*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a
reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect
to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent
amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page
shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or
otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the
Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act
(however, see the Notes).

CUSIP Number: 025917105

1.  Name of Reporting Person
    S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
         Magten Asset Management Corp.
         

2.  Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group
         a.   
         b.   X

3.  SEC Use Only

4.  Citizenship or Place of Organization
         Delaware








Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
With:

5.  Sole Voting Power:
         -0-

6.  Shared Voting Power:
           965,563

7.  Sole Dispositive Power:
         -0-

8.  Shared Dispositive Power:
         1,164,453

9.  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting
Person
         1,164,453

10. Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes
    Certain Shares

11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
         5.4%

12. Type of Reporting Person
         IA, CO

Item 1(a) Name of Issuer: American Government Income Fund,
Inc.

      (b)Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
         Piper Jaffray Tower, 222 S. Ninth St., Minneapolis,
    Minnesota 55402

Item 2(a) - (c).  Name, Principal Business Address, and
Citizenship of Persons Filing:

         Magten Asset Management Corp. ("Magten")
         35 East 21st St., New York, NY 10010
         Corp. organized under the laws of the State of
          Delaware

    (d)  Title of Class of Securities:  Common Stock

    (e)  CUSIP Number:  025917105





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Item 3.  This statement is filed pursuant to Rule
13d-1(b)(1).

    /x/  Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of
         the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 Item 4. Ownership.
         (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 1,164,453
         (b) Percent of Class: 5.4%
         (c) 965,563 shares with shared power to vote or to
direct the vote; 1,164,453 shares with shared power to
dispose or to direct the disposition of.

Item 5.  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

         N/A

Item 6.  Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of
Another Person.
    
         Magten's investment advisory clients have the right
to receive dividends from the securities to which this
Schedule 13G relates.  

Item 7.  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary
Which Acquired the Security Being Reported by the Parent
Holding Company.
    
         N/A

Item 8.  Identification and Classification of Members of the
Group.
    
         N/A

Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of the Group.
    
         N/A

Item 10. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were
acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not
acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of
changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such
securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a
participant in any transaction having such purposes or
effect.




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         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my
knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set
forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.



By: /s/ Talton R. Embry                     February 13, 1998
    _________________________               ___________________
   Title: Managing Director                 Date
   









































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