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24
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PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949
Mice 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955
No. of complaints dealt with. 429 745 568 453 301
Rats
No. of complaints dealt with 412 495 263 453 110
No complaints were received from business premises
relating to rat infestation but eleven business premises (mainly
catering establishments) were troubled with mice. It is
compulsory for the occupiers of food premises to notify the
local authority of rodent infestation.
The rodent control staff paid 3,859 visits to premises
either by way of survey or treatment.
Continuous research is undertaken by the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries & Food into methods of rodent destruction
and the results are passed on to local authority staffs by
instruction courses which have been attended by all the rodent
control staff. The three assistants to the Public Health
Inspectors have also been trained in this work and assist the
two regular operatives whenever necessary, particularly during
holiday periods, absences due to sickness, etc.
Maintenance Treatment for Rats in Sewers
I am indebted to the Borough Engineer and Surveyor for
information regarding the treatment of sewer infestations.
Every endeavour is made to carry out treatments twice
yearly and two such operations were performed in 1959 during the
months of March and November.
During March the orthodox method of disinfestation with
10 per cent. Arsenious Oxide was used. Details and results of
the operation were as follows:-
Number of manholes baited 700
Manholes showing prebait take 292
Manholes showing complete prebait take 67
Following successful experiments by other authorities
and after consultation with representatives of the Infestation
Control Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food,