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36
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949
Rodent Control
For the work of rodent control, this Council employs a Rodent
Officer, Assistant Rodent Officer, Foreman and six operatives.
During the year under review an extensive and systematic "Block"
inspection of business premises has been carried out. This revealed
many infestations of both rats and mice. Consequently the amount of
work has increased and many occupiers of business premises have requested
that maintenance treatments be given even after the infestation has
been cleared.
The presence of rattus rattus (Ship Rat) is still noticed in parts
of the Borough but there has been a marked reduction in the density of
infestations.
In conjunction with the Borough Engineers Dept. the treatment of
sewers has been carried out on three occasions since April 1958. and
on the recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food,
sodium fluoroacetate (1080) has been used. The results have so far
been good and the treatments have undoubtedly reduced the size of
infestations of rattus norvegicus (common rat), both above and below
the surface.
During May 1958 members of the Finnish Public Health & Sanitary
Inspectors Association were paying a visit to this Country and,
following a request from the Infestation Central Division of the
Ministry ,of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. it was a pleasure to
welcome them to this Borough, when it was possible for them to see all
aspects of the British methods of rodent control from the keeping of
records to the visiting of both surface and sewer treatments.