[en] The purpose of this investigation is to examine the process of photofission in ²³⁸U near and below threshold. The absolute photofission cross section of ²³⁸U is known to have peaks at 5.2, 5.7, 6.2, 7.1, and 7.8 MeV of gamma energy. It is difficult to understand the existence of such structure in terms of liquid drop model with a single humped barrier against fission with respect to nuclear deformation. However, Strutinsky has recently suggested the existence of a double humped barrier in fission which has an additional potential minimum called the ''second well'' and it appears possible that the above noted resonance structure can possibly be explained in terms of quasi stable states formed in this second well. A detailed study of penetration through a double humped barrier has been made. A model calculation has been performed within the framework of quasi-classical approximation for a potential barrier which also includes the primary potential well of the bound nucleus. Photofission cross sections have been calculated and an attempt has been made to reconcile the apparent resonance structure observed in photofission experiments and the isomeric and ground state spontaneous fission halflives in terms of a single suitable set of parameters of a double humped barrier for ²³⁸U. The results indicate that fission halflives and resonances in photofission cross sections near threshold are satisfactorily reproduced. Our calculation also predicts several low energy resonances in photofission cross sections of ²³⁸U. (U.S.)