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Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949.
Rodent Control measures throughout the Borough have been carried out under
the supervision of the Rodent Officer and a staff of six operatives.
Work of the section may be divided into three main categories: -
(a) Sewer Maintenance Treatment.
(b) Business premises - routine inspection for rodent control.
(c) Dwelling houses - complaints from occupiers.
Sewer Maintenance.
Treatments have been carried out at 6 monthly intervals with the co-operation
of the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department under the direction of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to synchronize with treatments in the neighbouring
Authorities' areas.
For many years the method of control of rats in the sewers has consisted
essentially of poisoning either with zinc phosphide or with arsenous oxide.
In the past it has been found that these methods have been r easonably effective
but on examination of results of treatments over a number of years, it was
obvious that the rat population of the sewers appeared to be static and it was
considered that it would be worthwhile to adopt different control methods and, for
that purpose, treatment by "Prepared Warfarin" was carried out for our second
treatment. This treatment had the approval of the Ministry ofAgriculture, Fisheries
and Food.
The treatment was found to be very satisfactory, large numbers of dead rats
being reported lying on the bait trays and benches. From the results of this
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