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41
The control of Mosquito and Fly breeding in the static water
tanks, etc., was carried out by the team of four men employed on
the scheme. The methods included spraying with D.D.T. and the
use of Gammexane Powder in certain instances.
Many difficulties were met with, such as getting into and out
of deep sites, and commendation is called for in regard to the
efforts of the men in overcoming these difficulties and carrying out
the work under objectionable conditions at times.
In cafes and food shops, work was regarded as experimental
as it was known that the D.D.T. spray would soil food and that the
Gammexane Powder, by reason of its penetrating odour, would
have the same effect. Despite efforts to control the problem,
especially in connection with the fish shops, it was found undesirable,
in practice, to use either the residual spray or Gammexane Powder.
Efforts were made to find an innocuous mixture and experiments
were carried out with a water miscible D.D.T. It is hoped that
during the next season, by further experiment, this method may be
so far perfected as to enable similar success to be attained as in the
case of the other factors mentioned.
In addition to the three main lines of attack, our men were all
the time on the search for new sources of Fly breeding, and, with
commendable attention to detail, during their travels throughout
the Borough, have treated collections of dog droppings, horse
droppings and scraps of food thrown on the streets with Powder thus
preventing small infestations occurring.
One problem which was met in the early part of the scheme was
the fact that another Borough barges its house refuse from a wharf
adjacent to one of our Depots—sometimes four or five days'
collection of refuse would be left on the site. By arrangement with
the Borough concerned, it was possible to obtain periodical spraying
of this collection when it occurred and thus the problem was
minimised.
It might also be mentioned that it has been the practice for groups
of barges loaded with house refuse from many Boroughs to lie off
Blackwall Point for several days at a time. On one occasion the
nuisance from flies hatching out on these barges and invading the
foreshore was so great that it appeared to the Investigators as if a
plague of locusts was in being. Again, by arrangement with the
Port of London Authority, it was possible to obtain some amelioration
of the position by having the barges treated during the period
they awaited collection, while the foreshore infestation was treated
by our men.
During August, the opportunity was taken of trying out a
special method suggested by a private firm for the use of a finely