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32
THE RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919.

An account of the methods of destruction adopted by the Rat Officer appears in the report for
1923.
During the National Rat Week Campaign, held in November, the following special measures
were adopted.
Sewers,
The Borough Engineer placed twelve flushers at the disposal of the Public Health Department, and
these assisted by laying 30,000 barium poison baits in the entrances to sewers. In North Kensington, 120
entrances were baited daily and in the southern half of the Borough 114 entrances. The flushers report
that the majority of the baits disappeared.
Wood Lane.
Special attention was given to the rubbish tips and 12,000 barium baits were laid in the various metal
and other dumps adjoining. Wire cage traps were set and baited daily. Thirty-six rats were found
dead in the Depot and adjoining ground during the Week.
Private Premises.
The number of private houses and business premises visited during the Week was sixty-three, and
twenty rats were killed therein in break-back traps and on rat lime traps.
Railways.
During Rat Week, the railway companies whose lines run through the Borough are always very
pleased to co-operate and special efforts are made by them to carry out extermination of rats. During
the Week, gas and poison were used by the Underground Railway Company between the South Kensington
and Notting Hill Gate Stations. The Great Western Railway baited their lines which run across
North Kensington from Westbourne Park Station to Kensal Wharf. They placed baits in the West
London Carriage Yard at the rear of Barlby Road and in their Locomotive and Traffic Departments, at
the Uxbridge Road Depot, and at the Kensington (Addison Road) Station. All dumps, sheds, stores and
railway embankments were also heavily baited.
Sidings in Warwick Road.
Every precaution is taken by the Great Western and London, Midland and Scottish Railway Companies
(who control the majority of sidings) to keep them free from rats. Mice are seen occasionally in
trucks but cats apparently keep the sidings from becoming infested. No complaint of rats was received
from the Council's Depot in Warwick Road.
Canal and River Wharves.
The Council's Wharves at Lots Road, Chelsea, and Kensal Road, were inspected, but no evidence of
rats was found and no complaint was made by the workmen who were questioned on the subject . The
dogs on the barges help to keep the wharves free from rats.
Cinema Theatres.
Lantern slides calling the attention of the public to Rat Week were shown at the Imperial Playhouse,
Portobello Road, and at the Coronet Theatre, Notting Hill Gate.
Press.
An advertisement was inserted in the local press bringing National Rat Week to the notice of the
public.
VERMINOUS PREMISES CLEANSED.
Five hundred and forty verminous houses were cleansed during the year by landlords in
response to notices served under the powers conferred by the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1922. The Council's Rat Officer, in addition to his duties under the Rats and Mice
(Destruction) Act, carries out disinfection of verminous premises in certain cases. The following
is a summary of his activities in this direction:—
Number of premises visited 69
Number of rooms sprayed 80