View report page

31
Rodent Control.
Block Control Scheme No. 2.
This scheme, approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, was started in
March, 1948, and was completed in March, 1949. The scheme covered that part of the
Borough lying North of High Holborn and New Oxford Street, and West of Southampton
Row and Woburn Place.
The work falls naturally into three categories: —
(1) The survey proper.
This includes the circularising of business firms, the inspection of all premises,
including pre-baiting in any cases of doubt, and also includes investigation of bombed
sites, derelict premises and empty buildings. Under this heading the following figures
show approximately the work carried out: —
Total number of buildings 686
No. of business premises 887 included in the
No. of dwellings 1,053 686 buildings.
No. of bombed sites and derelict buildings 35
During the survey, where information was obtained that service companies in rat
repression work had been or were engaged by the firms, contact was made, and the
Council's officers worked in close collaboration with representatives of the firms.
(2) Treatment.
The next step was the treatment of all premises found to be infested—the degree
of infestation varied considerably. The following figures show the number of premises
infested, the bombed sites being fully treated in every case: —
Business premises 114
Dwellings 106
Bombed sites and derelict buildings 35
The number of premises re-treated was as follows: —
Business premises 2
Dwellings 2
Bombed sites and derelict buildings Nil
At the same time as treatment was carried out advice was given, and firms and
property owners encouraged to carry out necessary rat-proofing of premises.
The number of visits to infested premises were:—
Treatments visits 1,093
Other visits 1,737
The number of bodies recovered and the estimated kill was: —
Rattus Rattus. Rattus Norvegicus.
(Ship rat). (Common rat).
Bodies recovered 239 33
Estimated kill 1,029 101
The estimated kill is a conservative figure based on the amount of poison known
to have been taken. This is in accordance with the Ministry of Food formula.
An indication of the co-operation received from all concerned is indicated by the
fact that the service of notices under the Rats and Mice Destruction Act was not necessary.