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1921] 36
Metropolitan Borough of Islington.
RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919.
This Act came into Operation on 1st January, 1920.
PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO DESTROY RATS AND MICE.
Any person who shall fail to take such steps as may from time to time be necessary
and reasonably practicable for the destruction of rats and mice on or in any land of which
he is the occupier, or for preventing such land from becoming infested with rats and mice,
shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding Five Pounds, or where he has
been served with a notice under this Act requiring him to take such steps, not exceedirg
Twenty Pounds.
The expression "Occupier" means, in the case of land not occupied by any tenant
or other person, the owner of the land.
The expression "Land" includes any buildings, and any other erection on land,
and any cellar, sewer, drain or culvert in or under land.
This Act shall apply to a vessel (such as a barge on the Regent's Canal) as if the vessel
were " Land " and the master of the vessel shall be deemed to be the " Occupier " thereof.
Methods and Preventive Measures.
The most effective methods for destroying rats and mice embrace the use of traps,
snares, ferrets, dogs, fumigation, and the use of poisons. The safest poisons have been
found to be preparations of squills and barium carbonate. Poison should be laid in such
a way that human beings, domestic animals, poultry, etc., cannot obtain access to it.
The laying of baits containing any poison should be carried out with the utmost care.
The actual amount laid in each single rat-hole or burrow should be as small as possible
to obtain the results aimed at. The position of these places should be noted, and any dead
rats found afterwards should be burnt or destroyed to prevent domestic animals getting
at the carcases. Previous to the laying of poisons the owners of poultry, dogs, pigs and
other animals frequenting or likely to come near places where poison has been laid should
be warned, and, after an interval of a few days, all unconsumed baits should be removed
and destroyed.
Attention should be specially directed to all drains, waste, food and grain stores and
stacks, etc.
Persons desiring information on the subject of rat or mice destruction, or experiencing
any difficulty in obtaining suitable materials for that purpose, should apply to The
Medical Officer of Health, Town Hall, Upper Street. Islington, N.I., to whom
all complaints should be addressed.
Town Hall, Upper Street, N. 1. C. G. E. FLETCHER,
22nd January, 1920. Town Clerk.
The temporary appointment of a Rat Officer was made by the Council on the 26th
January, 1920, to carry out the provisions of the Act, and the following statement shows
the work performed by him during the undermentioned periods: