FORM 4

  __  Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16.
      Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue.
      See Instruction 1(b).

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935
or Section 30(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1.  Name and Address of Reporting Person

Last,                       First,                      Middle
======================      ======================      ===================
Bassett,                    John                        J.       


Street
=============================================================
3400 Peyton Court



City, State, Zip
=============================================================
Mobile, Alabama  36695



2.  Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
    Middle Bay Oil Company, Inc., MBOC

3.  IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary)


4.  Statement for Month/Year
    June, 1966

5.  If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)


6.  Relationship of Reporting Person to Issuer 
(Check all applicable)

Director:  X

Officer (give title below):  X

10% Owner:

Other (specify below):


TABLE 1 - NON-DERIVATIVE SECURITIES ACQUIRED, DISPOSED OF,
OR BENEFICIALLY OWNED

1.  Title of Security (Instr. 3)
    Common stock

2.  Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)
    6/19/96

3.  Transaction Code (Instr. 8)
    Code,                             V
    =======================       =========
    P

4.  Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
    Amount,           (A) or (D),    Price
    ===============   ===========    ==============
    1000              A              3.25

5.  Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Month
    (Instr. 3 and 4)
    10,756

6.  Ownership Form:  Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)
    D

7.  Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)


TABLE II - DERIVATIVE SECURITIES ACQUIRED, DISPOSED OF,
OR BENEFICIALLY OWNED (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options,
convertible securities)

1.  Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)


2.  Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security


3.  Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)


4.  Transaction Code (Instr. 8)
    Code,                             V
    =======================       =========


5.  Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
    (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
    (A),                    (D)
    ================        ================

6.  Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)
    Date Exercisable,          Expiration Date
    ======================     =====================


7.  Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)
    Title,                                     Amount or Number of Shares
    ====================================       ==========================


8.  Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)


9.  Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Month
    (Instr. 4)


10.  Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
     (Instr. 4)


11.  Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)



Explanation of Responses:










                                  /s/ John J. Basset                  7/10/96
                                _____________________________    _____________
                                Signature of Reporting Person         Date



**Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal
Criminal Violations.  See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).