-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P4bszKCffbAyeB9mDXahRU/o136Vw3d1SY6umvNYUZpcn8kUWlntHHpyPeCIbRoL
 +bbUUofh2eDbxzRT7N0KPQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001287695-05-000020.txt : 20050103
<SEC-HEADER>0001287695-05-000020.hdr.sgml : 20041231
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050103121306
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001287695-05-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYAN KEVIN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001081544

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07456
		FILM NUMBER:		05501085

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		800 SCUDDER MILL ROAD
		CITY:			PLAINSBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			085636

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLENN TERRY K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001081559

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07456
		FILM NUMBER:		05501086

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		800 SCUDDERS MILL ROAD
		CITY:			PLAINSBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08536

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SENIOR HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000896665
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				223226962
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 SCUDDERS MILL RD
		CITY:			PLAINSBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08536
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6092822800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 9011
		CITY:			PRINCETON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08543-9011
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000896665</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SENIOR HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001081559</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GLENN TERRY K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>800 SCUDDERS MILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLAINSBORO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08536</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001081544</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN KEVIN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Catherine Johnston, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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