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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549





                              INITIAL SCHEDULE 13G






                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                         Charles River Associates, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)
                                  Common Stock
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)
                                    159852102
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                December 31, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the  appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:


                   [ X ]   Rule 13d-1(b)

                   [   ]   Rule 13d-1(c)

                   [   ]   Rule 13d-1(d)


*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any  subsequent  amendment  containing  information  which  would  alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).












                               PAGE 1 OF 10 PAGES




- ----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 159852102 13G Page 2 of 10 Pages - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company I.R.S. No. 04-1414660 - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) |_| (b) |_| N/A - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Commonwealth of Massachusetts - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 SOLE VOTING POWER Number of Shares -0- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beneficially 6 SHARED VOTING POWER Owned by Each -0- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporting 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER Person With -0- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock Advisers, Inc. - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* N/A - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 See line 9, above. - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IC, IA, HC - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! PAGE 2 OF 10 PAGES - ----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 159852102 13G Page 3 of 10 Pages - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON John Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc. I.R.S. No. 04-2687223 - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) |_| (b) |_| N/A - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 SOLE VOTING POWER Number of Shares -0- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beneficially 6 SHARED VOTING POWER Owned by Each -0- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporting 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER Person With -0- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock Advisers, Inc. - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* N/A - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 See line 9, above. - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* HC - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! PAGE 3 OF 10 PAGES - ----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 159852102 13G Page 4 of 10 Pages - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON The Berkeley Financial Group, Inc. I.R.S. No. 04-3145626 - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) |_| (b) |_| N/A - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 SOLE VOTING POWER Number of Shares -0- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beneficially 6 SHARED VOTING POWER Owned by Each -0- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporting 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER Person With -0- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock Advisers, Inc. - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* N/A - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 See line 9, above. - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* HC - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! PAGE 4 OF 10 PAGES - ----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 159852102 13G Page 5 of 10 Pages - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON John Hancock Advisers, Inc. I.R.S. No. 04-2441573 - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) |_| (b) |_| N/A - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 SOLE VOTING POWER Number of Shares 555,200 -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beneficially 6 SHARED VOTING POWER Owned by Each -0- -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporting 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER Person With 555,200 -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 555,200 - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* N/A - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 6.7% - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IA - ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! PAGE 5 OF 10 PAGES
The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference. The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath his signature. Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Sec. 240.13d-7 for other parties for whom copies are to be sent. Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001) Item 1(a) Name of Issuer: Charles River Associates, Inc. Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 200 Clarendon Street T-33 Boston, MA 02116 Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing: This filing is made on behalf of John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company ("JHMLICO"), JHMLICO's direct, wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc. ("JHSI"), JHSI's direct, wholly-owned subsidiary, The Berkeley Financial Group, Inc. ("TBFG") and TBFG's wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock Advisers, Inc. ("JHA"). Item 2(b) Address of the Principal Offices: The principal business offices of JHMLICO and JHSI are located at John Hancock Place, P.O. Box 111, Boston, MA 02117. The principal business offices of TBFG and JHA are located at 101 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199. Item 2(c) Citizenship: JHMLICO was organized and exists under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. JHSI, TBFG and JHA were organized and exist under the laws of the State of Delaware. Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock Item 2(e) CUSIP Number: 159852102 Item 3 If the Statement is being filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a: JHMLICO: (c) (X) Insurance Company as defined in ss.3(a)(19) of the Act. (e) (X) Investment Adviser registered under ss.203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. (g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b) (ii)(G). PAGE 6 OF 10 PAGES JHSI: (g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G). TBFG: (g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G). JHA: (e) (X) Investment Adviser registered under ss.203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Item 4 Ownership: (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: JHA has direct beneficial ownership of 555,200 shares of Common Stock Through their parent-subsidiary relationship to JHA, JHMLICO, JHSI and TBFG have indirect, beneficial ownership of these same shares. (b) Percent of Class: 6.7% (c) (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote: JHA has sole power to vote or direct the vote of the 555,200 shares of Common Stock under the Advisory Agreements as follows: Date of Number Advisory Fund Name of Shares Agreement --------- --------- --------- Maritime Life Discovery Fund 4,900 May 11, 1994 Indosuez North America Smaller Companies Portfolio 6,400 May 20, 1997 Variable Series Trust I-Small Cap Growth Portfolio 16,800 March 29, 1996 UFF Croissance Amerique 11,100 July 2, 1996 John Hancock Special Equities Fund 355,700 January 1, 1994 John Hancock Emerging Growth Fund 151,800 December 2, 1996 John Hancock Small Capitalization Growth Fund 600 December 11, 1995 V.A. Emerging Growth Fund 1,900 August 29, 1996 Small Cap (Advisers) Account 6,000 November 1, 1998 (ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote: -0- (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: JHA has sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the 555,200 shares of Common Stock under the Advisory Agreements noted in Item 4(c)(i) above. (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: -0- Item 5 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class: Not applicable. Item 6 Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person: See Item 4. PAGE 7 OF 10 PAGES Item 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company: See Items 3 and 4 above. Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group: Not applicable. Item 9 Notice of Dissolution of a Group: Not applicable. Item 10 Certification: By signing below the undersigned certifies that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect. PAGE 8 OF 10 PAGES SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company By: /s/Gregory P. Winn ------------------------------------- Name: Gregory P. Winn Dated: January 19, 1999 Title: Vice President & Treasurer John Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc. By: /s/Gregory P. Winn ------------------------------------- Name: Gregory P. Winn Dated: January 19, 1999 Title: Treasurer The Berkeley Financial Group, Inc. By: /s/Susan S. Newton ------------------------------------- Name: Susan S. Newton Dated: January 19, 1999 Title: Vice President John Hancock Advisers, Inc. By: /s/Susan S. Newton ------------------------------------- Name: Susan S. Newton Dated: January 19, 1999 Title: Vice President PAGE 9 OF 10 PAGES EXHIBIT A JOINT FILING AGREEMENT John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, John Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc., The Berkeley Financial Group and John Hancock Advisers, Inc. agree that the Initial Schedule 13G, to which this Agreement is attached, relating to the Common Stock of Charles River Associates, Inc. is filed on behalf of each of them. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company By: /s/Gregory P. Winn -------------------------------------- Name: Gregory P. Winn Dated: January 19, 1999 Title: Vice President & Treasurer John Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc. By: /s/Gregory P. Winn -------------------------------------- Name: Gregory P. Winn Dated: January 19, 1999 Title: Treasurer The Berkeley Financial Group, Inc. By: /s/Susan S. Newton -------------------------------------- Name: Susan S. Newton Dated: January 19, 1999 Title: Vice President John Hancock Advisers, Inc. By: /s/Susan S. Newton -------------------------------------- Name: Susan S. Newton Dated: January 19, 1999 Title: Vice President PAGE 10 OF 10 PAGES