MESABI TRUST - Quarter Report: 2008 April (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

		For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2008

		or

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

		For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 1-4488

MESABI TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York		13-6022277
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

c/o Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust & Securities Services – GDS 60 Wall Street 27th Floor New York, New York		10005
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

(615) 835-2749
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o		Accelerated filer x

Non-accelerated filer o		Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

As of June 4, 2008, there were 13,120,010 Units of Beneficial Interest in Mesabi Trust outstanding.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements. (Note 1)

Mesabi Trust

Condensed Statements of Income

Three Months Ended April 30, 2008 and 2007

		Three Months Ended
		April 30,
		2008		2007
		(unaudited)		(unaudited)
A.	Condensed Statements of Income

	Revenues
	Royalty income	$	3,847,710	$	1,779,141
	Interest income	14,097		5,915
		3,861,807		1,785,056

	Expenses	222,154		85,439

	Net income	$	3,639,653	$	1,699,617

	Number of units outstanding	13,120,010		13,120,010

	Net income per unit (Note 2)	$	0.2774	$	0.1295

	Distributions declared per unit (Note 3)	$	0.1200	$	0.0450

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

Mesabi Trust

Condensed Balance Sheets

April 30, 2008 and January 31, 2008

		April 30, 2008		January 31, 2008
		(unaudited)
B.	Condensed Balance Sheets

	Assets

	Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,772,470	$	6,959,701

	U.S. Government securities, at amortized cost (which approximates market)	493,784		544,193

	Accrued income receivable	3,140,603		959,925
	Prepaid expenses	33,914		24,687
		5,440,771		8,488,506

	Fixed property, including intangibles, at nominal values

	Amended Assignment of Peters Lease	1		1

	Assignment of Cloquet Lease	1		1

	Certificate of beneficial interest for 13,120,010 units of land trust	1		1
		3		3

		$	5,440,774	$	8,488,509

	Liabilities, Unallocated Reserve and Trust Corpus

	Liabilities
	Distribution payable	$	1,574,401	$	6,756,805
	Accrued expenses	141,271		71,680
		1,715,672		6,828,485

	Unallocated Reserve (Note 4)	3,725,099		1,660,021
	Trust Corpus	3		3

		$	5,440,774	$	8,488,509

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

Mesabi Trust

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

Three Months Ended April 30, 2008 and 2007

		Three Months Ended
		April 30,
		2008			2007
		(unaudited)			(unaudited)
C.	Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

	Cash flows from operating activities
	Royalties received	$	1,665,665		$	644,109
	Interest received	15,463			10,828
	Expenses paid	(161,789		)	(167,651		)

	Net cash provided by operating activities	1,519,339			487,286

	Cash flows from investing activities
	Maturities of U.S. Government Securities	100,000			4,364,754
	Purchases of U.S. Government Securities	(49,765		)	(4,279,543		)

	Net cash provided by investing activities	50,235			85,211

	Cash flow used for financing activity Distributions to Unitholders	(6,756,805		)	(4,132,803		)

	Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(5,187,231		)	(3,560,306		)

	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	6,959,701			4,258,201

	Cash and cash equivalents, end of quarter	$	1,772,470		$	697,895

	Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities

	Net income	$	3,639,653		$	1,699,617
	Increase in accrued income receivable	(2,180,678		)	(1,130,119		)
	Increase in prepaid expenses	(9,227		)	(17,103		)
	Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses	69,591			(65,109		)

	Net cash provided by operating activities	$	1,519,339		$	487,286

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

MESABI TRUST

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

April 30, 2008 (unaudited)

Note 1. The financial statements included herein have been prepared without audit (except for the balance sheet at January 31, 2008) in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of the Trustees, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of (a) the results of operations for the three months ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, (b) the financial positions at April 30, 2008, and (c) the cash flows for the three months ended April 30, 2008 and 2007, have been made.

Note 2. Earnings per unit are based on weighted average number of units outstanding during the period (13,120,010 units).

Note 3. Distributions are required to be declared each year in April, July, October and January after receiving notification from Northshore Mining Company as to the amount of royalty income that is expected to be received by the Trust. The Trust receives notification of the expected royalty amounts as of the close of each calendar quarter, while the financial statements included herein are prepared on an accrual basis and present the Trust’s results of operations for the three months ended April 30, 2008. The Trustees determine the amount of distributions to be made to Unitholders after considering any known or anticipated expenses, liabilities and obligations of the Trust. Accordingly, distributions declared may not reflect the Trust’s current results of operations.

Note 4. The Trustees have determined that the Unallocated Reserve should be maintained at a prudent level, usually within the range of $500,000 to $1,000,000, to meet present or future liabilities of the Trust. Accordingly, although the actual amount of the Unallocated Reserve will fluctuate from time to time, and may increase or decrease from its current level, it is currently intended that future distributions will be highly dependent upon royalty income as it is received quarterly and the level of Trust expenses that the Trustees anticipate occurring in subsequent quarters. At April 30, 2008, the Unallocated Reserve was represented by $584,496 in unallocated cash and U.S. Government securities, and $3,140,603 of accrued revenue primarily representing royalties not yet received by the Trust but anticipated to be received in July 2008 from Northshore Mining Company as part of the royalty due with respect to the second fiscal quarter, based upon reported lessee shipping activity during the month of April 2008.

Note 5. In May 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 162 “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“FAS 162”). FAS 162 identifies the sources of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. FAS 162 is effective sixty days following the SEC’s approval of PCAOB amendments to AU Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” The Trust is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of FAS 162 on its financial statements.

Item 2. Trustees’ Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. All such forward-looking statements, including those statements estimating iron ore pellet production or shipments, are based on information from the lessee/operator (and its parent corporation) of the mine located on the lands owned and held in trust for the benefit of the holders of units of beneficial interest of Mesabi Trust. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “project,” “predict, “ “intend,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” “plan,” “should,” “assume,” “forecast” and other similar words. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results and future developments could differ materially from the results or developments expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include volatility of iron ore and steel prices, product supply and demand, competition, regulation or government action, litigation and uncertainties about estimates of reserves. Further, substantial portions of royalties earned by Mesabi Trust are based on estimated prices that are subject to interim and final adjustments which can be positive or negative and are dependent in part on multiple price and inflation index factors under agreements to which Mesabi Trust is not a party and that are not known until after the end of a contract year. For a discussion of the factors, including but not limited to, those that could materially and adversely affect Mesabi Trust’s actual results and performance, see “Risk Factors” in Part I – Item 1A of Mesabi Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended January 31, 2008. Mesabi Trust undertakes no obligation, other than that imposed by law, to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this filing or to update them to reflect circumstances occurring after the date of this filing.

Background

Mesabi Trust (“Mesabi Trust” or the “Trust”), formed pursuant to an Agreement of Trust dated July 18, 1961 (the “Agreement of Trust”), is a trust organized under the laws of the State of New York. Mesabi Trust holds all of the interests formerly owned by Mesabi Iron Company (“MIC”), including all right, title and interest in the Amendment of Assignment, Assumption and Further Assignment of Peters Lease (the “Amended Assignment of Peters Lease”), the Amendment of Assignment, Assumption and Further Assignment of Cloquet Lease (the “Amended Assignment of Cloquet Lease” and together with the Amended Assignment of Peters Lease, the “Amended Assignment Agreements”), the beneficial interest in the Mesabi Land Trust (as such term is defined below) and all other assets and property identified in the Agreement of Trust. The Amended Assignment of Peters Lease relates to an Indenture made as of April 30, 1915 among East Mesaba Iron Company (“East Mesaba”), Dunka River Iron Company (“Dunka River”) and Claude W. Peters (the “Peters Lease”) and the Amended Assignment of Cloquet Lease relates to an Indenture made May 1, 1916 between Cloquet Lumber Company and Claude W. Peters (the “Cloquet Lease”).

The Agreement of Trust specifically prohibits the Trustees from entering into or engaging in any business. This prohibition applies even to business activities the Trustees may deem necessary or proper for the preservation and protection of the Trust Estate. Accordingly, the Trustees’ activities in connection with the administration of Trust assets are limited to collecting income, paying expenses and liabilities, distributing net income to the holders of Certificates of Beneficial Interest in Mesabi Trust (“Unitholders”) after the payment of, or provision for, such expenses and liabilities, and protecting and conserving the assets held.

The Trustees do not intend to expand their responsibilities beyond those permitted or required by the Agreement of Trust, the Amendment to the Agreement of Trust dated October 25, 1982 (the “Amendment”), and those required under applicable law. Mesabi Trust has no employees, but it engages independent consultants to assist the Trustees in, among other things, monitoring the volume and sales prices of iron ore products shipped from Silver Bay, Minnesota, based on information supplied to the Trustees by Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”), the lessee/operator of the Mesabi Trust lands, and its parent company Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (“CCI”). References to Northshore in this quarterly report, unless the context requires otherwise, are applicable to CCI as well.

Leasehold royalty income constitutes the principal source of the Trust’s revenue. Royalty rates are determined in accordance with the terms of Mesabi Trust’s leases and assignments of leases. Three types of royalties, as well as royalty bonuses, comprise the Trust’s leasehold royalty income:

· Base overriding royalties. Base overriding royalties have historically constituted the majority of Mesabi Trust’s royalty income. Base overriding royalties are determined by both the volume and selling price of iron ore products shipped. Northshore is obligated to pay Mesabi Trust base overriding royalties in varying amounts, based on the volume of iron ore products shipped. Base overriding royalties are calculated as a percentage of the gross proceeds of iron ore products produced at Mesabi Trust lands (and to a limited extent other lands) and shipped from Silver Bay, Minnesota. The percentage ranges from 2-1/2% of the gross proceeds for the first one million tons of iron ore products so shipped annually to 6% of the gross proceeds for all iron ore products in excess of 4 million tons so shipped annually. Base overriding royalties are subject to price adjustments under the CCI Pellet Agreements and, as described elsewhere in this report, such adjustments may be positive or negative. See the section entitled “Royalty Comparisons” below for more information.

· Royalty bonuses. The Trust earns royalty bonuses when iron ore products shipped from Silver Bay are sold at prices above a threshold price per ton. The royalty bonus is based on a percentage of the gross proceeds of product shipped from Silver Bay and sold at prices above a threshold price. The threshold price is adjusted (but not below $30.00 per ton) on an annual basis for inflation and deflation (the “Adjusted Threshold Price”). The Adjusted Threshold Price was $45.98 per ton for calendar year 2007 and is $47.43 per ton for calendar year 2008. The royalty bonus percentage ranges from 1/2 of 1% of the gross proceeds (on all tonnage shipped for sale at prices between the Adjusted Threshold Price and $2.00 above the Adjusted Threshold Price) to 3% of the gross proceeds (on all tonnage shipped for sale at prices $10.00 or more above the Adjusted Threshold Price). Royalty bonuses are subject to price adjustments under the CCI Pellet Agreements and, as described elsewhere in this report, such adjustments may be positive or negative. See the section entitled “Royalty Comparisons” below for more information.

· Fee royalties. Fee royalties have historically constituted a smaller component of the Trust’s total royalty income. Fee royalties are payable to the Mesabi Land Trust, a Minnesota land trust, which holds a 20% interest as fee owner in the Amended Assignment of Peters Lease. Mesabi Trust holds the entire beneficial interest in the Mesabi Land Trust for which U.S. Bank N.A. acts as the corporate trustee. Mesabi Trust receives the net income of the Mesabi Land Trust, which is generated from royalties on the amount of crude ore mined after the payment of expenses to U.S. Bank N.A. for its services as corporate trustee. Crude ore is the source of iron oxides used to make iron ore pellets and other products. The fee royalty on crude ore is based on an agreed price per ton, subject to certain indexing.

· Minimum advance royalties. Generally, Northshore’s obligation to pay base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses with respect to the sale of iron ore products accrues upon the shipment of those products from Silver Bay. However, regardless of whether any shipment has occurred, Northshore is obligated to pay to Mesabi Trust a minimum advance royalty. Each year, the amount of the minimum advance royalty is adjusted (but not below $500,000 per annum) for inflation and deflation. The minimum advance royalty was $766,510 for calendar year 2007 and is $790,721 for calendar year 2008. Until overriding royalties (and royalty bonuses, if any) for a particular year equal or exceed the minimum advance royalty for the year, Northshore must make quarterly payments of up to 25% of the minimum advance royalty for the year. Because minimum advance royalties are essentially prepayments of base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses earned each year, any minimum advance royalties paid in a fiscal quarter are recouped by credits against base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses earned in later fiscal quarters during the year.

Northshore is obligated to make quarterly royalty payments in January, April, July and October of each year based on shipments of iron ore products from Silver Bay, Minnesota during each calendar quarter. In the case of base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses, these quarterly royalty payments are to be made whether or not the related proceeds of sale have been received by Northshore by the time such payments become due.

Under the relevant documents, Northshore may mine and ship iron ore products from lands other than Mesabi Trust lands. Northshore alone determines whether to mine off Trust and/or such other lands, based on its current mining and engineering plan. The Trustees do not exert any influence over mining operational decisions. To encourage the use of iron ore products from Mesabi Trust lands, Mesabi Trust receives royalties on stated percentages of iron ore shipped from Silver Bay, whether or not the iron ore products are from Mesabi Trust lands. Mesabi Trust receives royalties at the greater of (i) the aggregate quantity of iron ore products shipped that were from Mesabi Trust lands, and (ii) a portion of the aggregate quantity of all iron ore products shipped from Silver Bay that were mined from any lands, such portion being 90% of the first four million tons shipped from Silver Bay during such year, 85% of the next two million tons shipped during such year, and 25% of all tonnage shipped from Silver Bay during such year in excess of six million tons.

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the Corporate Trustee, performs certain administrative functions for Mesabi Trust. The Trust maintains a website at www.mesabi-trust.com. The Trust makes available (free of charge) its annual, quarterly and current reports (and any amendments thereto) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) through its website as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing or furnishing such material with or to the SEC.

Results of Operations

Comparison of Iron Ore Pellet Production and Shipments for the Three Months Ended April 30, 2008 and April 30, 2007

As shown in the table below, production of iron ore pellets at Northshore from Mesabi Trust lands during the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2008 totaled 1,216,101 tons, and actual shipments over the same period totaled 1,040,114 tons. By comparison, actual pellet production and actual shipments for the comparable prior period were 953,557 tons and 469,470 tons, respectively.

Fiscal Quarter Ended	Pellets Produced from Trust Lands (tons)	Pellets Shipped from Trust Lands (tons)
April 30, 2008	1,216,101	1,040,114
April 30, 2007	953,557	469,470

Comparison of Royalty Income for the Three Months Ended April 30, 2008 and April 30, 2007

Total royalty income for the quarter increased approximately 116% over the comparable prior period. The increase in total royalty income is due to higher sales prices per ton of iron ore pellets sold and an increase in the total volume of iron ore pellets shipped during the three months ended April 30, 2008, each as compared to the three months ended April 30, 2007. The higher sales prices per ton and the increase in the volume of iron ore pellets shipped both contributed to an increase in the base overriding royalty and the bonus royalty payments.

The table below shows that the base overriding royalties and the bonus royalties increased by 235% and 103%, respectively, for the three months ended April 30, 2008. The increases in the base overriding royalties and the bonus royalties are both attributable to the higher sales prices per ton of iron ore pellets and the increase in the volume of tons shipped during the three months ended April 30, 2008, each as compared to the three months ended April 30, 2007.

The table below summarizes the components of Mesabi Trust’s royalty income for the three months ended April 30, 2008 and April 30, 2007, respectively:

	Three Months Ended April 30,
	2008		2007
Base overriding royalties	$	1,756,171	$	524,776
Bonus royalties	1,958,725		967,057
Minimum advance royalty paid (recouped)	—		191,628
Fee royalties	132,814		95,680
Total royalty income	$	3,847,710	$	1,779,141

Comparison of Income, Expenses and Distributions for the Three Months Ended April 30, 2008 and April 30, 2007

Net income for the three months ended April 30, 2008 was $3,639,653, an increase of approximately 114% compared to the three months ended April 30, 2007. As with the increase in total royalty income, the increase in net income for the quarter ended April 30, 2008 is the result of higher sales prices per ton of iron ore pellets shipped and an increase in the volume of tons shipped. Net income was partially offset by an increase in the Trust’s expenses of $136,715 which is attributable to an increase the Trust’s professional service fees that were accrued for during the three months ended April 30, 2008. The table below summarizes the Trust’s income and expense items for the three months ended April 30, 2008 and April 30, 2007, respectively.

	Three Months Ended April 30,
	2008		2007
Total royalty income	$	3,847,710	$	1,779,141
Interest income	14,097		5,915
Gross income	3,861,807		1,785,056
Expenses	222,154		85,439
Net income	$	3,639,653	$	1,699,617

As presented on the Trust’s Condensed Statements of Income on page 2 of this quarterly report, the Trust’s net income per unit increased $0.1479 to $0.2774 for the three months ended April 30, 2008, as compared to the three months ended April 30, 2007. At the same time, distributions declared per unit increased $0.0750 to $0.1200 for the three months ended April 30, 2008, as compared to the three months ended April 30, 2007.

Comparison of Unallocated Reserve as of April 30, 2008, April 30, 2007 and January 31, 2008

The Unallocated Reserve, which is comprised of accrued income receivable and cash reserve for potential fixed or contingent future liabilities increased 66% from $2,248,891 as of April 30, 2007 to $3,725,099 as of April 30, 2008. The accrued income receivable portion of the Unallocated Reserve increased 104% from $1,539,883 as of April 30, 2007 to $3,140,603 as of April 30, 2008. At the same time, the Trust’s cash reserve for potential fixed or contingent future liabilities, which is represented by unallocated cash and U.S. Government securities, decreased 18% from $709,008 as of April 30, 2007 to $584,496 as of April 30, 2008.

The Trust’s Unallocated Reserve as of April 30, 2008 increased 124% or $2,065,078 as compared to the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008. The increase in the Unallocated Reserve is primarily due to the accrual of royalty income for shipments from Northshore during the month of April 2008. At January 31, 2008, approximately 58% of the Unallocated Reserve or $959,925 was represented by accrued income receivable while 42% or $700,096 was represented by unallocated cash and U.S. Government securities. Comparatively, as of April 30, 2008, approximately 84% of the Unallocated Reserve or $3,140,603 was represented by accrued income receivable while 16% or $584,496 was represented by unallocated cash and U.S. Government securities. The significant increase in the accrued income receivable portion of the Unallocated Reserve is the result of an increase in the volume of shipments from Northshore during the three months ended April 30, 2008, as compared to the three months ended January 31, 2008.

The Trustees have determined that a portion of the Unallocated Reserve, usually within the range of $500,000 to $1,000,000 or such other amount as the Trustees may deem prudent, should be maintained as a reserve for potential fixed or contingent future liabilities. Although the actual amount of the Unallocated Reserve will fluctuate from time to time and may increase or decrease from its current level, it is currently intended that future distributions will be highly dependent upon royalty income as it is received and the level of Trust expenses. The amount of future royalty income available for distribution will be subject to the volume of iron ore product shipments and the dollar level of sales by Northshore. Shipping activity is greatly reduced during the winter months and economic conditions, particularly those affecting the steel industry, may adversely affect the amount and timing of such future shipments and sales. See discussion under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008.

The Trustees will continue to monitor the economic circumstances of the Trust to strike a responsible balance between distributions to Unitholders and the need to maintain adequate reserves at a prudent level, given the unpredictable nature of the iron ore industry, the Trust’s dependence on the actions of the lessee/operator, and the fact that the Trust essentially has no other liquid assets.

Recent Developments

Production and Shipments. During calendar years 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004, the percentage of shipments of iron ore products from Mesabi Trust lands was approximately 88.2%, 90.9%, 90.1%, 92.0% and 95.5%, respectively, of total shipments. In its Form 10-Q filed May 6, 2008, CCI reported that it is estimating total production of 5.7 million tons of iron ore pellets at Northshore during calendar year 2008. Northshore has not advised the Trustees as to the percentage of iron ore products from Mesabi Trust lands it anticipates shipping in calendar year 2008. See the description of the uncertainty of market conditions in the iron ore and steel industry under “Important Factors Affecting Mesabi Trust” below and the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I – Item 1A of the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended January 31, 2008.

Restart of Idle Furnace at Northshore. In its Form 10-Q filed May 6, 2008, CCI reported that it restarted an idle furnace at Northshore to increase the production of iron ore pellets at Northshore. CCI also reported that it expects production at Northshore to benefit from an incremental increase of 600,000 tons in 2008 and up to 800,000 tons annually thereafter. CCI has not informed the Trustees regarding the extent to which the increase in production at Northshore will result in an increase in shipments of iron ore products from Mesabi Trust lands. Therefore, the Trustees are unable to predict the extent to which the restart of the furnace at Northshore may impact future royalties payable to Mesabi Trust.

Northshore Administrative Permit Amendment. As reported in the Trust’s Form 10-K filed April 11, 2008, according to CCI’s Form 10-K filed February 29, 2008, on December 16, 2006, CCI submitted an administrative permit amendment application to the MPCA with respect to Northshore’s Title V operating permit. CCI reported that Northshore requested an amendment to its permit to delete a 30 year old “control city” monitoring requirement but the MPCA denied Northshore’s application on February 23, 2007. In its Form 10-K, CCI further reported that it had appealed the denial of its application to the Minnesota Court of Appeals and that subsequent to the filing of the appeal, the MPCA advised Northshore that the MPCA considered Northshore to be in violation of the control city standard. CCI also reported that it was in discussions with the MPCA with respect to the terms of a compliance schedule in which it would agree to take certain actions in settlement of the alleged violation. According to CCI’s Form 10-K, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy had since filed a motion with the Court of Appeals to intervene in Northshore’s appeal of the denial of an administrative amendment to Northshore’s Title V operating permit.

On May 20, 2008, the Minnesota Court of Appeals issued a ruling on Northshore’s appeal and held that the MPCA did not err in concluding that Northshore proceeded under the wrong permit modification procedures when it applied to amend its permit to eliminate the “control city” standard from its Title V operating permit. The Court ruled that Northshore’s administrative amendment application should have been dealt with through the major permit amendment process rather than through the administrative permit amendment process, which is used to address insignificant amendments. Northshore has 30 days to appeal this ruling to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The Trustees are unable to predict what impact the decision of the Court of Appeals or an adverse decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court will have on Northshore’s compliance with its Title V operating permit or future royalties payable to the Trust.

Important Factors Affecting Mesabi Trust

The Agreement of Trust specifically prohibits the Trustees from entering into or engaging in any business. This prohibition seemingly applies even to business activities the Trustees deem necessary or

proper for the preservation and protection of the Trust Estate (as such term is defined below). Accordingly, the Trustees’ activities in connection with the administration of Trust assets are limited to collecting income, paying expenses and liabilities, distributing net income to Mesabi Trust’s Unitholders after the payment of, or provision for, such expenses and liabilities, and protecting and conserving the assets held. Consequently, the income of Mesabi Trust is highly dependent upon the activities and operations of Northshore, and the terms and conditions of the leases and assignments of leases between Mesabi Trust and Northshore.

Neither Mesabi Trust nor the Trustees have any control over the operations and activities of Northshore, except within the framework of the Amended Assignment Agreements. CCI alone controls (i) historical operating data, including iron ore production volumes, marketing of iron ore products, operating and capital expenditures as they relate to Northshore, environmental and other liabilities and the effects of regulatory changes; (ii) plans for Northshore’s future operating and capital expenditures; (iii) geological data relating to reserves (iv) projected production of iron ore products; and (v) the decision to mine off Mesabi Trust and/or state lands (which is based on its current mining and engineering plan). The Trustees do not exert any influence over mining operational decisions, nor do the Trustees provide any input regarding the ore reserve estimate reported by CCI. While the Trustees request material information for use in periodic reports as part of their evaluation of Mesabi Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures, the Trustees do not control this information and they rely on the information in CCI’s periodic and current filings with the SEC to provide accurate and timely information in Mesabi Trust’s reports filed with the SEC.

In accordance with the Agreement of Trust and the Amendment, the Trustees are entitled to, and in fact do, rely upon certain experts in good faith, including (i) the independent consultants with respect to monthly production and shipment reports, which include figures on crude ore production and iron ore pellet shipments, and discussions concerning the condition and accuracy of the scales and plans regarding the development of Mesabi Trust’s mining property; and (ii) the accounting firm they have contracted with for non-audit services, including reviews of financial data related to shipping and sales reports provided by Northshore and a review of the schedule of leasehold royalties payable to Mesabi Trust. For a discussion of additional factors, including but not limited to those that could adversely affect Mesabi Trust’s actual results and performance, see “Risk Factors” in Part I – Item 1A of Mesabi Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended January 31, 2008.

Iron Ore Pricing and Contract Adjustments

During the course of its fiscal year some portion of the royalties paid to Mesabi Trust are based on estimated prices for iron ore products sold under term contracts between CCI and its subsidiaries and certain of their customers (the “CCI Pellet Agreements”). Mesabi Trust is not a party to any of the CCI Pellet Agreements. These prices are subject to interim and final pricing adjustments, which can be positive or negative, and which adjustments are dependent in part on a variety of price and inflation index factors, including but not limited to the international benchmark pellet price, hot band steel prices and various Producer Price Indexes. Although Northshore makes interim adjustments to the royalty payments on a quarterly basis, these price adjustments cannot be finalized until after the end of a contract year. This may result in significant and frequent variations in royalties received by Mesabi Trust (and in turn the resulting amount of funds available for distribution to Unitholders by the Trust) from quarter to quarter and on a comparative historical basis, and these variations, which can be positive or negative, cannot be predicted by Mesabi Trust.

Effects of Securities Regulation

The Trust is a publicly-traded trust listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and is therefore subject to extensive regulation under, among others, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”) and the rules and regulations of the NYSE. Issuers failing to comply with such authorities risk serious consequences, including criminal as well as civil and administrative penalties. In most instances, these laws, rules and regulations do not specifically address their applicability to publicly-traded trusts such as Mesabi Trust. In particular, Sarbanes-Oxley mandated the adoption by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and NYSE of certain rules and regulations that are impossible for the Trust to literally satisfy because of its nature as a pass-through trust. Pursuant to NYSE rules the Trust is exempt from many of the corporate governance requirements that apply to publicly traded corporations. The Trust does not have, nor does the Agreement of Trust provide for, a board of directors, an audit committee, a corporate governance committee or a compensation committee. The Trustees intend to closely monitor the SEC’s and NYSE’s rulemaking activity and will attempt to comply with such rules and regulations where applicable.

In May 2008, the Trust established a website in response to the NYSE’s interpretation of Rule 203.01 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The Trust’s website is located at www.mesabi-trust.com.

Critical Accounting Policies

This “Trustees’ Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” is based upon the Trust’s financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Trustees to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The Trustees base their estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions that the Trustees believe are reasonable under the circumstances. However, future events are subject to change and the best estimates and judgments may require adjustment.

Critical accounting policies are those that have meaningful impact on the reporting of the Trust’s financial condition and results, and that require significant management judgment and estimates. The Trustees have determined that there are no critical accounting policies applicable to the Trust.

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

	Not applicable.

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Trustees maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust is accumulated and communicated by Northshore, and consultants to the Trustees as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As part of their evaluation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures, the Trustees rely on quarterly shipment and royalty calculations provided by Northshore. Because Northshore has declined to support this information with a written certification attesting to whether Northshore has established disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls sufficient to enable it to verify that the information furnished to the Trustees is accurate and complete, the Trustees also rely on (a) an annual certification from Northshore and Northshore’s parent, CCI, certifying as to the accuracy of the royalty calculations, and (b) the related due diligence review performed by the Trust’s external accountants. In addition, the Trust’s consultants review the schedule of leasehold royalties payable and shipping and sales reports provided by Northshore against production and shipment reports prepared by the Eveleth Fee Office, Inc., an independent consultant to the Trust (“Eveleth Fee Office”). The Eveleth Fee Office gathers production and shipping information from Northshore and prepares monthly production and shipment reports for the Trustees. Furthermore, as part of its engagement by the Trust, the Eveleth Fee Office also attends Northshore’s calibration and testing of its crude ore scales and boat loader scales which are conducted on a periodic basis.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Trustees carried out an evaluation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures. The Trustees have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. To the knowledge of the Trustees, there has been no change in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Trust’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. The Trustees note for purposes of clarification that they have no authority over, and make no statement concerning, the internal controls of Northshore or CCI.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the Trust’s risk factors as described in Part I Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2008.

Item 6.	Exhibits.

	31	Certification of Corporate Trustee of Mesabi Trust pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	32	Certification of Corporate Trustee of Mesabi Trust pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	99.1	Report of Gordon, Hughes & Banks, LLP, dated June 4, 2008 regarding its review of the un-audited interim financial statements of Mesabi Trust as of and for the quarter ended April 30, 2008.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	MESABI TRUST
		(Registrant)

		By:		DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY
				AMERICAS
				Corporate Trustee
		Principal Administrative Officer and duly authorized signatory:*

	By:		Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

Date: June 6, 2008			By:		/s/ Rodney Gaughan
			Name: Rodney Gaughan
			Title: Vice President

* There are no principal executive officers or principal financial officers of the registrant.