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74
Baiting of Sewers.—The Borough Engineer has kindly supplied
me with the undermentioned information of the treatments carried
out in the Council's sewers in connection with the scheme :—
The Council continued in the use of sodium fluoracetate in
ready mixed form for the baiting of sewer manholes as adopted in
the previous year. Stringent safety measures were taken for the
protection of the staff handling the materials and each manhole was
clearly marked after baiting to indicate that poison had been used.
Between January and April of the current year an extensive
treatment was carried out of all manholes to which it was possible
to gain access. Immediately prior to poisoning, a test baiting of
pinhead oatmeal was laid down and, by observing the takes, the
following results were obtained :—
Sewer manholes listed 1,390
Sewer manholes baited 1,349
Complete "takes" 53
Partial "takes" 401
No "takes" 895
Complete "takes", represented about 4% of the total manholes
treated and partial "takes" approximately 30% Compared with
experience of previously used poisons such as zinc phosphide and
arsenious oxide where pre—baiting resulted in 30% of manholes
showing complete "takes" and 30% partial "takes", this can be
considered a most satisfactory result.
Direct poisoning, i.e. without pre—baiting, is a simple and
apparently effective way of reducing the rat population in this
Borough and therefore this system of treatment is to continue.
Anti—Fly and Anti—Mosquito Campaign.—During the summer
period, April to September, the campaign has continued on
similar lines to previous years. Two men are employed in this
important preventive aspect of the Department's work consisting
of dealing with complaints and carrying out routine inspection and
treatment of sites where breeding may occur. A 5 cwt. van is used
to convey personnel and the necessary appliances and materials.
The major factors to be controlled include house refuse
contained in the dust chutes and dustbins, food shops, cafes and
canteens, static water sites, water butts, derelict baths and tanks,
ponds and ditches, etc.