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- 6o -
Details of work carried out by the Rodent Officers during the
year, 1964.
1. Treatment of Business and Private Business Private
Premises (Rats and Mice) Premises Premises
Number of visits 706 1,740
Number of infestations found 48 176
Number of treatments undertaken 44 170
Number of pre-baits laid 1,884
Number of poison baits laid 533
Number of complaints received 247
2. Sewer Maintenance Treatments (Rats) No. of poison Poison
baits laid used
No. 1 Treatment 152 Fluoracetamide
No. 2 Treatment 480 Fluoracetamide
No. 3 Treatment 480 Fluoracetamide
No. 4 Treatment 480 Fluoracetamide
No. 6 Treatment 68 Fluoracetamide
No. of test
baits laid
480
No. 5 Treatment - Test baiting with
sausage rusk
PIGEONS
Section 121 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, empowered the
local authority to seize and destroy pigeons believed to be ownerless and
where they congregate in numbers in excess of that considered reasonable.
Reducing the excessive number of pigeons is not obligatory although some
years ago the Council made use of direct labour for the trapping and
destruction of birds in addition to the use of individual approved
pigeon catchers who operated without charge. Although one pigeon
catcher still retains an authority to catch pigeons on the highways and
open spaces, he rarely operates in Chelsea, being fully occupied in
localities and on premises where he receives payment for his services.
The use of direct labour for this purpose was discontinued on the
instruction of the Public Health Committee several years ago, resulting
in action being limited to advice as to methods of proofing buildings or
supplying information in respect of firms either undertaking destruction
or proofing buildings against roosting and nesting. Proofing is not by
any means a solution it merely drives the birds from one building to a
neighbouring one. Much time is spent interviewing persons known to
feed pigeons and endeavouring to discourage the practice. Results
unfortunately are not always rewarding for there appears to be a firm
although misguided opinion that if not fed the pigeons will die of
hunger and there is of course no legal grounds to enforce discontinuance
of the practice. Unsuccessful attempts have been made elsewhere to
deal with feeding on the highway as an offence under the Litter Act,
1958.