EXHIBIT 6-B AMENDED AND RESTATED UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                   EXHIBIT 6-B

                   AMENDED AND RESTATED UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                     BETWEEN

                        ASTRA STRATEGIC INVESTMENT SERIES
                 (FORMERLY PILGRIM STRATEGIC INVESTMENT SERIES)

                                       AND

   
                          ASTRA FUND DISTRIBUTORS CORP.
                      (FORMERLY PILGRIM DISTRIBUTORS CORP.)
    

Gentlemen:

         Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Underwriting
Agreement dated May 20, 1992 between you and us; we hereby amend such Amended
and Restated Underwriting Agreement to: (i) to delete Pilgrim High Yield Trust
as a party to the Amended and Restated Underwriting Agreement; and (ii) to
change the name of the Pilgrim Strategic Investment Series to Astra Strategic
Investment Series and Pilgrim Distributors Corp. to Astra Fund Distributors
Corp., effective April 10, 1995.

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              ASTRA STRATEGIC INVESTMENT SERIES

                                              By:  _____________________________

                                              Its: _____________________________

Agreed to and Accepted:

ASTRA FUND DISTRIBUTORS CORP.

By:  _________________________

Its: _________________________