<PAGE>    1

               ----------------------------------
               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549
                         --------------
                            FORM S-8
                     REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                              UNDER
                   THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                         --------------
                      HECLA MINING COMPANY
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                
                Delaware                     82-0126240
    (State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)    Identification Number)

           6500 Mineral Drive                83815-8788
          Coeur d'Alene, Idaho               (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
          
          HECLA MINING COMPANY EXECUTIVE DEFERRAL PLAN
                    (Full title of the Plan)
                    ------------------------
                        Michael B. White
                      Hecla Mining Company
          Vice President - General Counsel & Secretary
                       6500 Mineral Drive
                Coeur d'Alene, Idaho  83815-8788
                         (208) 769-4100
    (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                                
                            Copy to:
                 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
                       51 West 52nd Street
                    New York, New York  10019
                         (212) 403-1000
                 Attention:  David A. Katz, Esq.

                 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Proposed Maximum   Proposed Minimum   Amount Of            Amount Of
Title Of Securities  Amount To Be       Offering Price     Aggregate            Registration
To Be Registered(1)  Registered (2)     Per Share (3)      Offering Price (3)   Fee
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                  <C>                <C>                <C>
Common Stock,
$.25 par value       1,000,000 shares   $3.875             $3,875,000           1,077.25
</TABLE>
                 
1.   This   Registration   Statement  also   pertains   to   Hecla   Mining
     Company's    Preferred   Share   Purchase   Rights   (the   "Rights").
     Until   the   occurrence   of    certain   prescribed   events,    the
     Rights    are    not    exercisable,    are    evidenced    by     the
     certificates   for   the  Common  Stock  and   will   be   transferred
<PAGE>    2

     along    with    and   only   with   such   securities.    Thereafter,
     separate   Rights   certificates  will  be  issued  representing   one
     Right   for   each   share   of  Common   Stock   held,   subject   to
     adjustment pursuant to anti-dilution provisions.

2.   Plus  such  indeterminate  number  of  shares  as  may  be  issued  to
     prevent    dilution    resulting    from    stock    splits,     stock
     dividends   or   similar   transactions  in   accordance   with   Rule
     416 under the Securities Act of 1933.

3.   Pursuant   to  Rule  457(h)  and  Rule  457(c)  under  the  Securities
     Act   of   1933,  the  registration  fee  is  based  on  the  reported
     average   of   the   high   and  low  prices  for   the   Registrant's
     Common    Stock    on    the    New    York    Stock    Exchange    on
     December 8, 1998.

PART I - INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS(1)

     ITEM 1.   PLAN INFORMATION.

               ITEM   2.     REGISTRANT  INFORMATION  AND   EMPLOYEE   PLAN
               ANNUAL INFORMATION.

PART II - INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

       The  following  documents  which  have  heretofore  been  filed   by
Hecla   Mining   Company   (the  "Company")   with   the   Securities   and
Exchange   Commission  (the  "Commission")  pursuant  to   the   Securities
Exchange   Act   of   1934,   as   amended  (the   "Exchange   Act"),   are
incorporated  by  reference  herein and  shall  be  deemed  to  be  a  part
hereof.

     1.   The   Company's  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for   the   year
          ended December 31, 1997.
     
     2.   The    information    contained   in    the    Company's    Proxy
          Statement,   dated  March  30,  1998,  for  the  Annual   Meeting
          of   Stockholders   held   on   May 8,  1998  (except  for  pages
          8-13).
     
     3.   The    description   of   Common   Stock   contained    in    the
          Company's    Registration   Statement   on   Form   8-B,    dated
          May   6,   1983,   filed  under  Section  12  of   the   Exchange
          Act,   including   any  amendment  or  report   filed   for   the
          purpose of updating such description.
     
     4.   The    description    of    the   Company's    Preferred    Share
          Purchase   Rights  contained  in   the   Registration   Statement
     
     
     ---------------------
     (1)    This information is not required to be included in, and is not
          incorporated by reference in, this Registration Statement.
     <PAGE>    3
     
          on  Form  8-A,  dated  May  17,  1996,  filed  under  Section  12
          of   the   Exchange  Act,  including  any  amendment  or   report
          filed for the purpose of updating such description.
     
     5.   The   Company's   Quarterly  Reports  on  Form   10-Q   for   the
          quarters   ending   March   31,   1998,   June   30,   1998   and
          September 30, 1998.

       All  documents  subsequently  filed  by  the  Company  pursuant   to
Section   13(a),  13(c),  14  or  15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act  prior   to
the   filing  of  a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates  that  all
securities   offered   have   been   sold   or   which   deregisters    all
securities    then   remaining   unsold,   shall   be    deemed    to    be
incorporated   by   reference  in  this  Registration  Statement   and   to
be   part   hereof   from   their  respective   dates   of   filing   (such
documents,   and   the  documents  enumerated  above,   being   hereinafter
referred   to   as  "Incorporated  Documents");  provided,  however,   that
the   documents   enumerated   above   or   subsequently   filed   by   the
Company   pursuant  to  Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14  and  15(d)   of   the
Exchange  Act  in  each  year  during  which  the  offering  made  by  this
Registration  Statement  is  in  effect  prior  to  the  filing  with   the
Commission   of   the  Company's  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K   covering
such   year   shall  not  be  Incorporated  Documents  or  be  incorporated
by   reference  in  this  Registration  Statement  or  be  a  part   hereof
from and after the filing of such Annual Report on Form 10-K.

       Any  statement  contained  in  an  Incorporated  Document  shall  be
deemed   to   be   modified   or   superseded   for   purposes   of    this
Registration   Statement  to  the  extent  that   a   statement   contained
herein   or   in   any  other  subsequently  filed  Incorporated   Document
modifies   or   supersedes  such  statement.    Any   such   statement   so
modified  or  superseded  shall  not  be  deemed,  except  as  so  modified
or    superseded,    to   constitute   a   part   of   this    Registration
Statement.

     ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     Not Applicable.

     ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

       Michael   B.   White,   Vice  President  -   General   Counsel   and
Secretary   for   the  Company,  who  has  rendered  an  opinion   on   the
legality  of  the  securities  being  registered,  owns  Common  Stock   of
the   Company   and   is   eligible  to  participate   in   the   Company's
Executive Deferral Plan.

     ITEM 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

        The    registrant,   being   incorporated   under   the    Delaware
General  Corporation  Law,  is  empowered  by  Section  145  of  such  Law,
subject   to   the   procedures   and  limitations   stated   therein,   to
indemnify    any    persons   against   expenses   (including    attorneys'
fees),   judgments,   fines  and  amounts  paid  in   settlement   actually
and  reasonably  incurred   by   such  person   in   the  defense   of  any
<PAGE>    4

threatened,   pending   or  completed  action,  suit   or   proceeding   in
which   such   person  is  made  a  party  by  reason  of   such   person's
being  or  having  been  a  director or  officer  of  the  registrant.  The
statute   provides   that  indemnification  pursuant  to   its   provisions
is   not   exclusive  of  other  rights  of  indemnification  to  which   a
person   may   be   entitled   under  any  by-law,   agreement,   vote   of
shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

       Article   IX  of  the  registrant's  Certificate  of  Incorporation,
as   amended   and   Article   VII   of  the   registrant's   By-Laws,   as
amended state:

       "Section   1.    LIMITATION  OF  LIABILITY.   A  director   of   the
Corporation   shall  not  be  personally  liable  to  the  Corporation   or
its   shareholders   for   monetary  damages  for   breach   of   fiduciary
duty   as  a  director,  except  for  liability  (i)  for  any  breach   of
the    director's   duty   of   loyalty   to   the   Corporation   or   its
shareholders,   (ii)  for  acts  or  omissions  not  in   good   faith   or
which   involve   intentional  misconduct  or  a   knowing   violation   of
law,   (iii)   under  Section  174  of  the  Delaware  General  Corporation
Law,   or  (iv)  for  any  transaction  from  which  the  director  derived
any    improper    personal    benefit.    If    the    Delaware    General
Corporation   Law  is  amended  after  approval  by  the  shareholders   of
this   article  to  authorize  corporate  action  further  eliminating   or
limiting   the   personal  liability  of  directors,  then  the   liability
of   a   director  of  the  Corporation  shall  be  eliminated  or  limited
to    the    fullest    extent   permitted   by   the   Delaware    General
Corporation   Law,   as   so   amended.    This   paragraph    shall    not
eliminate   or  limit  the  liability  of  a  director  for  any   act   or
omission   which   occurred   prior  to   the   effective   date   of   its
adoption.    Any   repeal  or  modification  of  this  paragraph   by   the
shareholders   of   the   Corporation  shall  not  adversely   affect   any
right  or  protection  of  a  director  of  the  Corporation  existing   at
the time of such repeal or modification.

     Section 2.  INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE.

     (a)    RIGHT   TO   INDEMNIFICATION   OF   DIRECTORS,   OFFICERS   AND
EMPLOYEES.    Each   person  who  was  or   is   made   a   party   or   is
threatened  to  be  made  a  party  to or  is  otherwise  involved  in  any
action,     suit     or     proceeding,    whether     civil,     criminal,
administrative   or   investigative  (hereinafter   a   "proceeding"),   by
reason  of  the  fact  that  he  or  she is  or  was  a  director,  officer
or   employee   of   the  Corporation  or  is  or  was   serving   at   the
request   of   the  Corporation  as  a  director,  officer,   employee   or
agent   of   another  corporation  or  of  a  partnership,  joint  venture,
trust   or  other  enterprise,  including  service  with  respect   to   an
employee   benefit   plan  (hereinafter  an  "indemnitee"),   whether   the
basis   of   such   proceeding   is   alleged   action   in   an   official
capacity   as   a   director,  officer  or  employee  or   in   any   other
capacity   while  serving  as  a  director,  officer  or  employee,   shall
be   indemnified   and   held   harmless  by   the   Corporation   to   the
fullest   extent   authorized   by   the   Delaware   General   Corporation
Law,  as  the  same  exists  or  may hereafter  be  amended  (but,  in  the
case   of   any   such   amendment,   only   to   the   extent  that   such
<PAGE>    5

amendment     permits     the    Corporation     to     provide     broader
indemnification   rights  than  permitted  prior  thereto),   against   all
expense,     liability    and    loss    (including    attorneys'     fees,
judgments,   fines,   ERISA   excise  taxes  or   penalties   and   amounts
paid   in   settlement)   reasonably   incurred   or   suffered   by   such
indemnitee   in   connection  therewith  and  such  indemnification   shall
continue   as   to  an  indemnitee  who  has  ceased  to  be  a   director,
officer   or   employee   and  shall  inure   to   the   benefit   of   the
indemnitee's    heirs,    executors    and    administrators;     provided,
however,   that,   except  as  provided  in  paragraph  (b)   hereof   with
respect   to   proceedings  to  enforce  rights  to  indemnification,   the
Corporation   shall   indemnify   any   such   indemnitee   in   connection
with   a   proceeding  (or  part  thereof)  initiated  by  such  indemnitee
only   if  such  proceeding  (or  part  thereof)  was  authorized  by   the
board    of    directors    of    the   Corporation.     The    right    to
indemnification   conferred   in  this  Section   shall   be   a   contract
right   and  shall  include  the  right  to  be  paid  by  the  Corporation
the   expenses  incurred  in  defending  any  such  proceeding  in  advance
of    its    final    disposition   (hereinafter   an    "advancement    of
expenses");   provided,   however,   that,   if   the   Delaware    General
Corporation   Law  requires,  an  advancement  of  expenses   incurred   by
an   indemnitee  in  his  or  her  capacity  as  a  director   or   officer
(and   not   in   any   other  capacity  in  which  service   was   or   is
rendered    by    such    indemnitee,   including,   without    limitation,
service   to   an   employee  benefit  plan)  shall  be  made   only   upon
delivery   to   the   Corporation   of  an  undertaking   (hereinafter   an
"undertaking"),  by  or  on  behalf  of  such  indemnitee,  to  repay   all
amounts  so  advanced  if  it  shall  ultimately  be  determined  by  final
judicial  decision  from  which  there  is  no  further  right  to   appeal
(hereinafter   a  "final  adjudication")  that  such  indemnitee   is   not
entitled   to   be  indemnified  for  such  expenses  under  this   Section
or otherwise.

     (b)    RIGHT   OF  INDEMNITEE  TO  BRING  SUIT.   If  a  claim   under
paragraph   (a)   of   this  Section  is  not   paid   in   full   by   the
Corporation   within   sixty  days  after  a   written   claim   has   been
received  by  the  Corporation, except in  the  case  of  a  claim  for  an
advancement   of   expenses,   in  which   case   the   applicable   period
shall   be   twenty  days,  the  indemnitee  may  at  any  time  thereafter
bring   suit   against  the  Corporation  to  recover  the  unpaid   amount
of   the   claim.   If  successful  in  whole  or  in  part  in  any   such
suit,   or   in   a  suit  brought  by  the  Corporation  to   recover   an
advancement   of  expenses  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  an   undertaking,
the  indemnitee  shall  be  entitled  to  be  paid  also  the  expense   of
prosecuting  or  defending  such  suit.   In  (i)  any  suit   brought   by
the   indemnitee   to   enforce   a  right  to  indemnification   hereunder
(but  not  in  a  suit  brought  by  the  indemnitee  to  enforce  a  right
to   an  advancement  of  expenses)  it  shall  be  a  defense  that,   and
(ii)  in  any  suit  by  the  Corporation  to  recover  an  advancement  of
expenses   pursuant  to  the  terms  of  an  undertaking  the   Corporation
shall    be   entitled   to   recover   such   expenses   upon   a    final
adjudication   that,   the   indemnitee  has   not   met   the   applicable
standard   of  conduct  set  forth  in  the  Delaware  General  Corporation
Law.    Neither  the  failure  of  the  Corporation  (including  its  board
of   directors,   independent  legal  counsel,   or  its  shareholders)  to
<PAGE>    6

have   made  a  determination  prior  to  the  commencement  of  such  suit
that    indemnification   of   the   indemnitee   is    proper    in    the
circumstances    because   the   indemnitee   has   met   the    applicable
standard   of  conduct  set  forth  in  the  Delaware  General  Corporation
Law,   nor   an   actual   determination  by  the  Corporation   (including
its    board   of   directors,   independent   legal   counsel,   or    its
shareholders)   that   the   indemnitee  has  not   met   such   applicable
standard    of   conduct,   shall   create   a   presumption    that    the
indemnitee  has  not  met  the  applicable  standard  of  conduct  or,   in
the  case  of  such  a  suit  brought  by  the  indemnitee,  be  a  defense
to  such  suit.   In  any  suit  brought by the  indemnitee  to  enforce  a
right    to    indemnification   or   to   an   advancement   of   expenses
hereunder,   or   by   the  Corporation  to  recover  an   advancement   of
expenses   pursuant  to  the  terms  of  an  undertaking,  the  burden   of
proving  that  the  indemnitee  is  not  entitled  to  be  indemnified,  or
to   such   advancement  of  expenses,  under  this  Section  or  otherwise
shall be on the Corporation.

     (c)      NON-EXCLUSIVITY     OF     RIGHTS.      The     rights     to
indemnification   and   to  the  advancement  of  expenses   conferred   in
this  Section  shall  not  be  exclusive  of  any  other  right  which  any
person   may   have   or  hereafter  acquire  under   any   statute,   this
Certificate    of    Incorporation,    By-Law,    agreement,    vote     of
shareholders    or    disinterested   directors    or    otherwise.     The
Corporation     is    authorized    to    enter    into    contracts     of
indemnification.
     
     (d)    INSURANCE.    The  Corporation  may  maintain   insurance,   at
its    expense,   to   protect   itself   and   any   director,    officer,
employee   or   agent   of   the  Corporation   or   another   corporation,
partnership,  joint  venture,  trust  or  other  enterprise   against   any
expense,   liability  or  loss,  whether  or  not  the  Corporation   would
have   the   power   to  indemnify  such  person  against   such   expense,
liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law."

     ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     Not Applicable.

     ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS.

        EXHIBIT NUMBER      DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS

               4            Hecla Mining Company's
                            Executive Deferral Plan

               5            Opinion of Counsel

             23.1           Consent of Independent Public
                            Accountants

             23.2           Consent of Counsel (contained
                            in Exhibit 5)


<PAGE>    7


   ITEM 9.     UNDERTAKINGS.

   (a)    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To   file,   during   any  period   in   which   offers   or
               sales   are   being   made,   a   post-effective   amendment
               to this registration statement:
          
               (i)    To     include    any    prospectus    required    by
                      Section   10(a)(3)   of   the   Securities   Act   of
                      1933 (the "Securities Act");
                    
               (ii)   To   reflect   in  the  prospectus   any   facts   or
                      events   arising   after  the   effective   date   of
                      the    registration   statement    (or    the    most
                      recent      post-effective     amendment     thereof)
                      which,    individually   or   in    the    aggregate,
                      represent    a    fundamental    change    in     the
                      information    set   forth   in   the    registration
                      statement.      Notwithstanding    the     foregoing,
                      any    increase    or   decrease   in    volume    of
                      securities    offered   (if    the    total    dollar
                      value    of    securities    offered    would     not
                      exceed   that   which   was   registered)   and   any
                      deviation   from  the  low  or  high   end   of   the
                      estimated    maximum   offering    range    may    be
                      reflected   in   the   form   of   prospectus   filed
                      with     the    Commission    pursuant    to     Rule
                      424(b)    if,   in   the   aggregate,   the   changes
                      in   volume   and  price  represent  no   more   than
                      20   percent   change   in  the   maximum   aggregate
                      offering     price     set     forth      in      the
                      "Calculation   of   Registration   Fee"   table    in
                      the effective registration statement.
               
               (iii)  To    include    any   material   information    with
                      respect    to   the   plan   of   distribution    not
                      previously     disclosed    in    the    registration
                      statement   or   any   material   change   to    such
                      information    in    the   registration    statement;
                      PROVIDED,        HOWEVER,       that       paragraphs
                      (a)(1)(i)   and   (a)(1)(ii)   do   not   apply    if
                      the   registration   statement   is   on   Form   S-3
                      or    Form    S-8,    or   Form    F-3,    and    the
                      information   required   to   be   included   in    a
                      post-effective       amendment        by        those
                      paragraphs      is     contained     in      periodic
                      reports    filed   with   or   furnished    to    the
                      Commission    by   the   registrant    pursuant    to
                      Section    13    or    Section    15(d)    of     the
                      Securities   Exchange   Act   of   1934   that    are
                      incorporated      by      reference      in       the
                      registration statement.
               
<PAGE>    8

          (2)  That,   for   the  purpose  of  determining  any   liability
               under   the   Securities  Act  of  1933,  each  such   post-
               effective   amendment  shall  be  deemed   to   be   a   new
               registration   statement   relating   to   the    securities
               offered    therein,    and    the    offering    of     such
               securities  at  that  time  shall  be  deemed  to   be   the
               initial bona fide offering thereof.
          
          (3)  To   remove   from  registration  by  means   of   a   post-
               effective   amendment   any   of   the   securities    being
               registered   which   remain  unsold   at   the   termination
               of the offering.
          
(b)  The    undersigned    registrant   hereby   undertakes    that,    for
     purposes   of   determining  any  liability   under   the   Securities
     Act   of   1933,  each  filing  of  the  registrant's  annual   report
     pursuant    to   Section   13(a)   or   15(d)   of   the    Securities
     Exchange   Act  of  1934  (and,  where  applicable,  each  filing   of
     any    employee   benefit   plan's   annual   report    pursuant    to
     Section   15(d)  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of   1934)   that
     is   incorporated   by   reference  in  the   registration   statement
     shall   be   deemed  to  be  a  new  registration  statement  relating
     to   the  securities  offered  therein,  and  the  offering  of   such
     securities   at  that  time  shall  be  deemed  to  be   the   initial
     bona fide offering thereof.
     
(c)  Insofar   as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising   under   the
     Securities    Act   of   1933   may   be   permitted   to   directors,
     officers   and   controlling  persons  of  the   registrant   pursuant
     to   the   foregoing   provisions,  or   otherwise,   the   registrant
     has   been  advised  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  Securities   and
     Exchange   Commission   such   indemnification   is   against   public
     policy    as    expressed   in   the   Act    and    is,    therefore,
     unenforceable.   In  the  event  that  a  claim  for   indemnification
     against   such   liabilities  (other   than   the   payment   by   the
     registrant   of   expenses   incurred   or   paid   by   a   director,
     officer   or   controlling   person   of   the   registrant   in   the
     successful   defense   of   any  action,  suit   or   proceeding)   is
     asserted   by  such  director,  officer  or  controlling   person   in
     connection    with    the    securities    being    registered,    the
     registrant   will,  unless  in  the  opinion  of   its   counsel   the
     matter   has   been   settled  by  a  controlling  precedent,   submit
     to   a   court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question   whether
     such   indemnification   by   it   is   against   public   policy   as
     expressed   in   the   Act  and  will  be  governed   by   the   final
     adjudication of such issue.









<PAGE>    9

                                 SIGNATURES

        THE   REGISTRANT.    Pursuant   to   the   requirements   of    the
Securities   Act   of   1933,  the  Registrant  certifies   that   it   has
reasonable    grounds   to   believe   that   it   meets   all    of    the
requirements   for   filing  on  Form  S-8  and  has   duly   caused   this
Registration   Statement   to   be   signed   on   its   behalf   by    the
undersigned,   thereunto   duly  authorized,   in   the   City   of   Coeur
d'Alene, State of Idaho, on November 11, 1998.

                              HECLA MINING COMPANY


                              By:  /s/  Arthur Brown
                                 --------------------------------
                                 Arthur Brown, Chairman,
                                 President and Chief
                                      Executive Officer

     Pursuant   to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of   1933,
this   Registration   Statement   has  been   signed   by   the   following
persons in the capacities indicated on December 11, 1998.


/s/  Arthur Brown                  /s/  Leland O. Erdahl
------------------------------     ------------------------------
Arthur Brown                       Leland O. Erdahl

/s/  John P. Stilwell              /s/  Charles L. McAlpine
------------------------------     ------------------------------
John P. Stilwell                   Charles L. McAlpine
Vice President -                   Director
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer)

/s/  Stanley E. Hilbert            /s/  Jorge E. Ordonez
------------------------------     ------------------------------
Stanley E. Hilbert                 Jorge E. Ordonez
Corporate Controller               Director
(principal accounting officer)

/s/  John E. Clute                 /s/  Ted Crumley
------------------------------     ------------------------------
John E. Clute                      Ted Crumley
Director                           Director

                                   /s/  Thomas J. O'Neil
------------------------------     ------------------------------
Joe Coors Jr.                      Thomas J. O'Neil
Director                           Director

/s/  Paul A. Redmond
------------------------------
Paul A. Redmond
Director
<PAGE>    10

                                
                                
                          EXHIBIT INDEX


           EXHIBIT
            NUMBER                      DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION


              4                         Hecla Mining Company's
                                        Executive Deferral Plan

              5                         Opinion of Counsel

             23.1                       Consent of Independent
                                        Public Accountants
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 28811}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HECLA MINING CO/DE/", "cik": "0000719413", "assigned-sic": "1400", "irs-number": "820126240", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-68799", "film-number": "98768502"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6500 MINERAL DR", "street2": "P O BOX C8000", "city": "COEUR D ALENE", "state": "ID", "zip": "83815-8788", "phone": "2087694100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6500 MINERAL DRIVE", "street2": "NONE", "city": "COEUR D'ALENE", "state": "ID", "zip": "83815-8788"}}
1

               ----------------------------------
               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549
                         --------------
                            FORM S-8
                     REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                              UNDER
                   THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                         --------------
                      HECLA MINING COMPANY
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                
                Delaware                     82-0126240
    (State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)    Identification Number)

           6500 Mineral Drive                83815-8788
          Coeur d'Alene, Idaho               (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
          
          HECLA MINING COMPANY EXECUTIVE DEFERRAL PLAN
                    (Full title of the Plan)
                    ------------------------
                        Michael B. White
                      Hecla Mining Company
          Vice President - General Counsel & Secretary
                       6500 Mineral Drive
                Coeur d'Alene, Idaho  83815-8788
                         (208) 769-4100
    (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                                
                            Copy to:
                 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
                       51 West 52nd Street
                    New York, New York  10019
                         (212) 403-1000
                 Attention:  David A. Katz, Esq.

                 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Proposed Maximum   Proposed Minimum   Amount Of            Amount Of
Title Of Securities  Amount To Be       Offering Price     Aggregate            Registration
To Be Registered(1)  Registered (2)     Per Share (3)      Offering Price (3)   Fee
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,
$.25 par value       1,000,000 shares   $3.875             $3,875,000           1,077.25
1.   This   Registration   Statement  also   pertains   to   Hecla   Mining
     Company's    Preferred   Share   Purchase   Rights   (the   "Rights").
     Until   the   occurrence   of    certain   prescribed   events,    the
     Rights    are    not    exercisable,    are    evidenced    by     the
     certificates   for   the  Common  Stock  and   will   be   transferred
2

     along    with    and   only   with   such   securities.    Thereafter,
     separate   Rights   certificates  will  be  issued  representing   one
     Right   for   each   share   of  Common   Stock   held,   subject   to
     adjustment pursuant to anti-dilution provisions.

2.   Plus  such  indeterminate  number  of  shares  as  may  be  issued  to
     prevent    dilution    resulting    from    stock    splits,     stock
     dividends   or   similar   transactions  in   accordance   with   Rule
     416 under the Securities Act of 1933.

3.   Pursuant   to  Rule  457(h)  and  Rule  457(c)  under  the  Securities
     Act   of   1933,  the  registration  fee  is  based  on  the  reported
     average   of   the   high   and  low  prices  for   the   Registrant's
     Common    Stock    on    the    New    York    Stock    Exchange    on
     December 8, 1998.

PART I - INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS(1)

     ITEM 1.   PLAN INFORMATION.

               ITEM   2.     REGISTRANT  INFORMATION  AND   EMPLOYEE   PLAN
               ANNUAL INFORMATION.

PART II - INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

       The  following  documents  which  have  heretofore  been  filed   by
Hecla   Mining   Company   (the  "Company")   with   the   Securities   and
Exchange   Commission  (the  "Commission")  pursuant  to   the   Securities
Exchange   Act   of   1934,   as   amended  (the   "Exchange   Act"),   are
incorporated  by  reference  herein and  shall  be  deemed  to  be  a  part
hereof.

     1.   The   Company's  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for   the   year
          ended December 31, 1997.
     
     2.   The    information    contained   in    the    Company's    Proxy
          Statement,   dated  March  30,  1998,  for  the  Annual   Meeting
          of   Stockholders   held   on   May 8,  1998  (except  for  pages
          8-13).
     
     3.   The    description   of   Common   Stock   contained    in    the
          Company's    Registration   Statement   on   Form   8-B,    dated
          May   6,   1983,   filed  under  Section  12  of   the   Exchange
          Act,   including   any  amendment  or  report   filed   for   the
          purpose of updating such description.
     
     4.   The    description    of    the   Company's    Preferred    Share
          Purchase   Rights  contained  in   the   Registration   Statement
     
     
     ---------------------
     (1)    This information is not required to be included in, and is not
          incorporated by reference in, this Registration Statement.
3
     
          on  Form  8-A,  dated  May  17,  1996,  filed  under  Section  12
          of   the   Exchange  Act,  including  any  amendment  or   report
          filed for the purpose of updating such description.
     
     5.   The   Company's   Quarterly  Reports  on  Form   10-Q   for   the
          quarters   ending   March   31,   1998,   June   30,   1998   and
          September 30, 1998.

       All  documents  subsequently  filed  by  the  Company  pursuant   to
Section   13(a),  13(c),  14  or  15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act  prior   to
the   filing  of  a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates  that  all
securities   offered   have   been   sold   or   which   deregisters    all
securities    then   remaining   unsold,   shall   be    deemed    to    be
incorporated   by   reference  in  this  Registration  Statement   and   to
be   part   hereof   from   their  respective   dates   of   filing   (such
documents,   and   the  documents  enumerated  above,   being   hereinafter
referred   to   as  "Incorporated  Documents");  provided,  however,   that
the   documents   enumerated   above   or   subsequently   filed   by   the
Company   pursuant  to  Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14  and  15(d)   of   the
Exchange  Act  in  each  year  during  which  the  offering  made  by  this
Registration  Statement  is  in  effect  prior  to  the  filing  with   the
Commission   of   the  Company's  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K   covering
such   year   shall  not  be  Incorporated  Documents  or  be  incorporated
by   reference  in  this  Registration  Statement  or  be  a  part   hereof
from and after the filing of such Annual Report on Form 10-K.

       Any  statement  contained  in  an  Incorporated  Document  shall  be
deemed   to   be   modified   or   superseded   for   purposes   of    this
Registration   Statement  to  the  extent  that   a   statement   contained
herein   or   in   any  other  subsequently  filed  Incorporated   Document
modifies   or   supersedes  such  statement.    Any   such   statement   so
modified  or  superseded  shall  not  be  deemed,  except  as  so  modified
or    superseded,    to   constitute   a   part   of   this    Registration
Statement.

     ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     Not Applicable.

     ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

       Michael   B.   White,   Vice  President  -   General   Counsel   and
Secretary   for   the  Company,  who  has  rendered  an  opinion   on   the
legality  of  the  securities  being  registered,  owns  Common  Stock   of
the   Company   and   is   eligible  to  participate   in   the   Company's
Executive Deferral Plan.

     ITEM 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

        The    registrant,   being   incorporated   under   the    Delaware
General  Corporation  Law,  is  empowered  by  Section  145  of  such  Law,
subject   to   the   procedures   and  limitations   stated   therein,   to
indemnify    any    persons   against   expenses   (including    attorneys'
fees),   judgments,   fines  and  amounts  paid  in   settlement   actually
and  reasonably  incurred   by   such  person   in   the  defense   of  any
4

threatened,   pending   or  completed  action,  suit   or   proceeding   in
which   such   person  is  made  a  party  by  reason  of   such   person's
being  or  having  been  a  director or  officer  of  the  registrant.  The
statute   provides   that  indemnification  pursuant  to   its   provisions
is   not   exclusive  of  other  rights  of  indemnification  to  which   a
person   may   be   entitled   under  any  by-law,   agreement,   vote   of
shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

       Article   IX  of  the  registrant's  Certificate  of  Incorporation,
as   amended   and   Article   VII   of  the   registrant's   By-Laws,   as
amended state:

       "Section   1.    LIMITATION  OF  LIABILITY.   A  director   of   the
Corporation   shall  not  be  personally  liable  to  the  Corporation   or
its   shareholders   for   monetary  damages  for   breach   of   fiduciary
duty   as  a  director,  except  for  liability  (i)  for  any  breach   of
the    director's   duty   of   loyalty   to   the   Corporation   or   its
shareholders,   (ii)  for  acts  or  omissions  not  in   good   faith   or
which   involve   intentional  misconduct  or  a   knowing   violation   of
law,   (iii)   under  Section  174  of  the  Delaware  General  Corporation
Law,   or  (iv)  for  any  transaction  from  which  the  director  derived
any    improper    personal    benefit.    If    the    Delaware    General
Corporation   Law  is  amended  after  approval  by  the  shareholders   of
this   article  to  authorize  corporate  action  further  eliminating   or
limiting   the   personal  liability  of  directors,  then  the   liability
of   a   director  of  the  Corporation  shall  be  eliminated  or  limited
to    the    fullest    extent   permitted   by   the   Delaware    General
Corporation   Law,   as   so   amended.    This   paragraph    shall    not
eliminate   or  limit  the  liability  of  a  director  for  any   act   or
omission   which   occurred   prior  to   the   effective   date   of   its
adoption.    Any   repeal  or  modification  of  this  paragraph   by   the
shareholders   of   the   Corporation  shall  not  adversely   affect   any
right  or  protection  of  a  director  of  the  Corporation  existing   at
the time of such repeal or modification.

     Section 2.  INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE.

     (a)    RIGHT   TO   INDEMNIFICATION   OF   DIRECTORS,   OFFICERS   AND
EMPLOYEES.    Each   person  who  was  or   is   made   a   party   or   is
threatened  to  be  made  a  party  to or  is  otherwise  involved  in  any
action,     suit     or     proceeding,    whether     civil,     criminal,
administrative   or   investigative  (hereinafter   a   "proceeding"),   by
reason  of  the  fact  that  he  or  she is  or  was  a  director,  officer
or   employee   of   the  Corporation  or  is  or  was   serving   at   the
request   of   the  Corporation  as  a  director,  officer,   employee   or
agent   of   another  corporation  or  of  a  partnership,  joint  venture,
trust   or  other  enterprise,  including  service  with  respect   to   an
employee   benefit   plan  (hereinafter  an  "indemnitee"),   whether   the
basis   of   such   proceeding   is   alleged   action   in   an   official
capacity   as   a   director,  officer  or  employee  or   in   any   other
capacity   while  serving  as  a  director,  officer  or  employee,   shall
be   indemnified   and   held   harmless  by   the   Corporation   to   the
fullest   extent   authorized   by   the   Delaware   General   Corporation
Law,  as  the  same  exists  or  may hereafter  be  amended  (but,  in  the
case   of   any   such   amendment,   only   to   the   extent  that   such
5

amendment     permits     the    Corporation     to     provide     broader
indemnification   rights  than  permitted  prior  thereto),   against   all
expense,     liability    and    loss    (including    attorneys'     fees,
judgments,   fines,   ERISA   excise  taxes  or   penalties   and   amounts
paid   in   settlement)   reasonably   incurred   or   suffered   by   such
indemnitee   in   connection  therewith  and  such  indemnification   shall
continue   as   to  an  indemnitee  who  has  ceased  to  be  a   director,
officer   or   employee   and  shall  inure   to   the   benefit   of   the
indemnitee's    heirs,    executors    and    administrators;     provided,
however,   that,   except  as  provided  in  paragraph  (b)   hereof   with
respect   to   proceedings  to  enforce  rights  to  indemnification,   the
Corporation   shall   indemnify   any   such   indemnitee   in   connection
with   a   proceeding  (or  part  thereof)  initiated  by  such  indemnitee
only   if  such  proceeding  (or  part  thereof)  was  authorized  by   the
board    of    directors    of    the   Corporation.     The    right    to
indemnification   conferred   in  this  Section   shall   be   a   contract
right   and  shall  include  the  right  to  be  paid  by  the  Corporation
the   expenses  incurred  in  defending  any  such  proceeding  in  advance
of    its    final    disposition   (hereinafter   an    "advancement    of
expenses");   provided,   however,   that,   if   the   Delaware    General
Corporation   Law  requires,  an  advancement  of  expenses   incurred   by
an   indemnitee  in  his  or  her  capacity  as  a  director   or   officer
(and   not   in   any   other  capacity  in  which  service   was   or   is
rendered    by    such    indemnitee,   including,   without    limitation,
service   to   an   employee  benefit  plan)  shall  be  made   only   upon
delivery   to   the   Corporation   of  an  undertaking   (hereinafter   an
"undertaking"),  by  or  on  behalf  of  such  indemnitee,  to  repay   all
amounts  so  advanced  if  it  shall  ultimately  be  determined  by  final
judicial  decision  from  which  there  is  no  further  right  to   appeal
(hereinafter   a  "final  adjudication")  that  such  indemnitee   is   not
entitled   to   be  indemnified  for  such  expenses  under  this   Section
or otherwise.

     (b)    RIGHT   OF  INDEMNITEE  TO  BRING  SUIT.   If  a  claim   under
paragraph   (a)   of   this  Section  is  not   paid   in   full   by   the
Corporation   within   sixty  days  after  a   written   claim   has   been
received  by  the  Corporation, except in  the  case  of  a  claim  for  an
advancement   of   expenses,   in  which   case   the   applicable   period
shall   be   twenty  days,  the  indemnitee  may  at  any  time  thereafter
bring   suit   against  the  Corporation  to  recover  the  unpaid   amount
of   the   claim.   If  successful  in  whole  or  in  part  in  any   such
suit,   or   in   a  suit  brought  by  the  Corporation  to   recover   an
advancement   of  expenses  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  an   undertaking,
the  indemnitee  shall  be  entitled  to  be  paid  also  the  expense   of
prosecuting  or  defending  such  suit.   In  (i)  any  suit   brought   by
the   indemnitee   to   enforce   a  right  to  indemnification   hereunder
(but  not  in  a  suit  brought  by  the  indemnitee  to  enforce  a  right
to   an  advancement  of  expenses)  it  shall  be  a  defense  that,   and
(ii)  in  any  suit  by  the  Corporation  to  recover  an  advancement  of
expenses   pursuant  to  the  terms  of  an  undertaking  the   Corporation
shall    be   entitled   to   recover   such   expenses   upon   a    final
adjudication   that,   the   indemnitee  has   not   met   the   applicable
standard   of  conduct  set  forth  in  the  Delaware  General  Corporation
Law.    Neither  the  failure  of  the  Corporation  (including  its  board
of   directors,   independent  legal  counsel,   or  its  shareholders)  to
6

have   made  a  determination  prior  to  the  commencement  of  such  suit
that    indemnification   of   the   indemnitee   is    proper    in    the
circumstances    because   the   indemnitee   has   met   the    applicable
standard   of  conduct  set  forth  in  the  Delaware  General  Corporation
Law,   nor   an   actual   determination  by  the  Corporation   (including
its    board   of   directors,   independent   legal   counsel,   or    its
shareholders)   that   the   indemnitee  has  not   met   such   applicable
standard    of   conduct,   shall   create   a   presumption    that    the
indemnitee  has  not  met  the  applicable  standard  of  conduct  or,   in
the  case  of  such  a  suit  brought  by  the  indemnitee,  be  a  defense
to  such  suit.   In  any  suit  brought by the  indemnitee  to  enforce  a
right    to    indemnification   or   to   an   advancement   of   expenses
hereunder,   or   by   the  Corporation  to  recover  an   advancement   of
expenses   pursuant  to  the  terms  of  an  undertaking,  the  burden   of
proving  that  the  indemnitee  is  not  entitled  to  be  indemnified,  or
to   such   advancement  of  expenses,  under  this  Section  or  otherwise
shall be on the Corporation.

     (c)      NON-EXCLUSIVITY     OF     RIGHTS.      The     rights     to
indemnification   and   to  the  advancement  of  expenses   conferred   in
this  Section  shall  not  be  exclusive  of  any  other  right  which  any
person   may   have   or  hereafter  acquire  under   any   statute,   this
Certificate    of    Incorporation,    By-Law,    agreement,    vote     of
shareholders    or    disinterested   directors    or    otherwise.     The
Corporation     is    authorized    to    enter    into    contracts     of
indemnification.
     
     (d)    INSURANCE.    The  Corporation  may  maintain   insurance,   at
its    expense,   to   protect   itself   and   any   director,    officer,
employee   or   agent   of   the  Corporation   or   another   corporation,
partnership,  joint  venture,  trust  or  other  enterprise   against   any
expense,   liability  or  loss,  whether  or  not  the  Corporation   would
have   the   power   to  indemnify  such  person  against   such   expense,
liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law."

     ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     Not Applicable.

     ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS.

        EXHIBIT NUMBER      DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS

               4            Hecla Mining Company's
                            Executive Deferral Plan

               5            Opinion of Counsel

             23.1           Consent of Independent Public
                            Accountants

             23.2           Consent of Counsel (contained
                            in Exhibit 5)
7

   ITEM 9.     UNDERTAKINGS.

   (a)    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To   file,   during   any  period   in   which   offers   or
               sales   are   being   made,   a   post-effective   amendment
               to this registration statement:
          
               (i)    To     include    any    prospectus    required    by
                      Section   10(a)(3)   of   the   Securities   Act   of
                      1933 (the "Securities Act");
                    
               (ii)   To   reflect   in  the  prospectus   any   facts   or
                      events   arising   after  the   effective   date   of
                      the    registration   statement    (or    the    most
                      recent      post-effective     amendment     thereof)
                      which,    individually   or   in    the    aggregate,
                      represent    a    fundamental    change    in     the
                      information    set   forth   in   the    registration
                      statement.      Notwithstanding    the     foregoing,
                      any    increase    or   decrease   in    volume    of
                      securities    offered   (if    the    total    dollar
                      value    of    securities    offered    would     not
                      exceed   that   which   was   registered)   and   any
                      deviation   from  the  low  or  high   end   of   the
                      estimated    maximum   offering    range    may    be
                      reflected   in   the   form   of   prospectus   filed
                      with     the    Commission    pursuant    to     Rule
                      424(b)    if,   in   the   aggregate,   the   changes
                      in   volume   and  price  represent  no   more   than
                      20   percent   change   in  the   maximum   aggregate
                      offering     price     set     forth      in      the
                      "Calculation   of   Registration   Fee"   table    in
                      the effective registration statement.
               
               (iii)  To    include    any   material   information    with
                      respect    to   the   plan   of   distribution    not
                      previously     disclosed    in    the    registration
                      statement   or   any   material   change   to    such
                      information    in    the   registration    statement;
                      PROVIDED,        HOWEVER,       that       paragraphs
                      (a)(1)(i)   and   (a)(1)(ii)   do   not   apply    if
                      the   registration   statement   is   on   Form   S-3
                      or    Form    S-8,    or   Form    F-3,    and    the
                      information   required   to   be   included   in    a
                      post-effective       amendment        by        those
                      paragraphs      is     contained     in      periodic
                      reports    filed   with   or   furnished    to    the
                      Commission    by   the   registrant    pursuant    to
                      Section    13    or    Section    15(d)    of     the
                      Securities   Exchange   Act   of   1934   that    are
                      incorporated      by      reference      in       the
                      registration statement.
8

          (2)  That,   for   the  purpose  of  determining  any   liability
               under   the   Securities  Act  of  1933,  each  such   post-
               effective   amendment  shall  be  deemed   to   be   a   new
               registration   statement   relating   to   the    securities
               offered    therein,    and    the    offering    of     such
               securities  at  that  time  shall  be  deemed  to   be   the
               initial bona fide offering thereof.
          
          (3)  To   remove   from  registration  by  means   of   a   post-
               effective   amendment   any   of   the   securities    being
               registered   which   remain  unsold   at   the   termination
               of the offering.
          
(b)  The    undersigned    registrant   hereby   undertakes    that,    for
     purposes   of   determining  any  liability   under   the   Securities
     Act   of   1933,  each  filing  of  the  registrant's  annual   report
     pursuant    to   Section   13(a)   or   15(d)   of   the    Securities
     Exchange   Act  of  1934  (and,  where  applicable,  each  filing   of
     any    employee   benefit   plan's   annual   report    pursuant    to
     Section   15(d)  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of   1934)   that
     is   incorporated   by   reference  in  the   registration   statement
     shall   be   deemed  to  be  a  new  registration  statement  relating
     to   the  securities  offered  therein,  and  the  offering  of   such
     securities   at  that  time  shall  be  deemed  to  be   the   initial
     bona fide offering thereof.
     
(c)  Insofar   as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising   under   the
     Securities    Act   of   1933   may   be   permitted   to   directors,
     officers   and   controlling  persons  of  the   registrant   pursuant
     to   the   foregoing   provisions,  or   otherwise,   the   registrant
     has   been  advised  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  Securities   and
     Exchange   Commission   such   indemnification   is   against   public
     policy    as    expressed   in   the   Act    and    is,    therefore,
     unenforceable.   In  the  event  that  a  claim  for   indemnification
     against   such   liabilities  (other   than   the   payment   by   the
     registrant   of   expenses   incurred   or   paid   by   a   director,
     officer   or   controlling   person   of   the   registrant   in   the
     successful   defense   of   any  action,  suit   or   proceeding)   is
     asserted   by  such  director,  officer  or  controlling   person   in
     connection    with    the    securities    being    registered,    the
     registrant   will,  unless  in  the  opinion  of   its   counsel   the
     matter   has   been   settled  by  a  controlling  precedent,   submit
     to   a   court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question   whether
     such   indemnification   by   it   is   against   public   policy   as
     expressed   in   the   Act  and  will  be  governed   by   the   final
     adjudication of such issue.
9

                                 SIGNATURES

        THE   REGISTRANT.    Pursuant   to   the   requirements   of    the
Securities   Act   of   1933,  the  Registrant  certifies   that   it   has
reasonable    grounds   to   believe   that   it   meets   all    of    the
requirements   for   filing  on  Form  S-8  and  has   duly   caused   this
Registration   Statement   to   be   signed   on   its   behalf   by    the
undersigned,   thereunto   duly  authorized,   in   the   City   of   Coeur
d'Alene, State of Idaho, on November 11, 1998.

                              HECLA MINING COMPANY

                              By:  /s/  Arthur Brown
                                 --------------------------------
                                 Arthur Brown, Chairman,
                                 President and Chief
                                      Executive Officer

     Pursuant   to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of   1933,
this   Registration   Statement   has  been   signed   by   the   following
persons in the capacities indicated on December 11, 1998.

/s/  Arthur Brown                  /s/  Leland O. Erdahl
------------------------------     ------------------------------
Arthur Brown                       Leland O. Erdahl

/s/  John P. Stilwell              /s/  Charles L. McAlpine
------------------------------     ------------------------------
John P. Stilwell                   Charles L. McAlpine
Vice President -                   Director
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer)

/s/  Stanley E. Hilbert            /s/  Jorge E. Ordonez
------------------------------     ------------------------------
Stanley E. Hilbert                 Jorge E. Ordonez
Corporate Controller               Director
(principal accounting officer)

/s/  John E. Clute                 /s/  Ted Crumley
------------------------------     ------------------------------
John E. Clute                      Ted Crumley
Director                           Director

                                   /s/  Thomas J. O'Neil
------------------------------     ------------------------------
Joe Coors Jr.                      Thomas J. O'Neil
Director                           Director

/s/  Paul A. Redmond
------------------------------
Paul A. Redmond
Director
10

                                
                                
                          EXHIBIT INDEX

           EXHIBIT
            NUMBER                      DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION

              4                         Hecla Mining Company's
                                        Executive Deferral Plan

              5                         Opinion of Counsel

             23.1                       Consent of Independent
                                        Public Accountants