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There are 22 buildings in which mechanical stokers are
employed.
Rat Nuisance.
Sealing and Filling Up of Disused Drains.—In connection
with the Rat Nuisance special attention is paid every year to the
sealing and filling up of disused drains.
The sanitary inspectors whilst on their rounds keep watch
for any buildings which are being demolished and should no
building be erected on the site, steps are taken to have the drains
effectually sealed off ; when possible the drain is sealed off at the
sewer end by the Borough Engineer's Department.
Should a new building be erected on the site, the drains are
dealt with before the premises are put in hand.
Efforts are also made to secure the removal of any W.C. pans
and the filling up of the drain, in the case of premises unoccupied
for a long period.
National Rat Week, 7th to 12th November, 1938.
The Council's efforts for the suppression of rats in the borough
are continuous throughout the year, that is, by the distribution of
handbills of instructions and supplies of rat poison which are given
freely to all Finsbury residents who apply, and by the special visits
and advice given by the Sanitary Inspectors of the Council in all
cases where complaints are received of the prevalence of rats in any
premises, by the exhibition of posters throughout the borough at
intervals during the whole year, and by supplies of freshly prepared
rat poison (squill) to the staff under the direction of the Borough
Engineer and Surveyor for baiting in the sewer manholes.
A special exhibition of the Council's posters, supplemented by
the special posters issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, is made
during rat week on hoardings throughout the borough and on the
Council's special notice boards, of which there are many in connection
with the open spaces and public sanitary conveniences and on
the rolling stock of the Council.
By reason of the fact that the efforts of the Council are not
principally confined to National Rat Week but extend throughout
the year, the number of complaints received during and about rat
week were not numerous. Two special enquiries were received from