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31
Domestic Business
Inspections by Rodent Officer 629 281
Inspections by Rodent Staff 3,451 942
Drains tested 133 38
Drains defective 65 4
Drains repaired 78 4
Drains opened for examination 101 4
Prebaits laid 6,796
Poison baits 5,190 3,732
Bodies recovered 210 163
Works completed by arrangement 104 13
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SHIP RAT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Two years ago Local Authorities, including Southwark, co-operated
with the officers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
in a survey, to determine the distribution of Rattus Rattus, the ship
rat, in the United Kingdom. The data has been collated and the following
interim summary of the results of the survey have been circulated:-
1. In 1951 the ship rat was reasonably well established ashore
in the London area and in about 40 localities outside it and
occurred sporadically in about 30 other places.
2. By 1956 it had decreased in range and frequency in most
localities and disappeared from some.
3. The main factors responsible for its loss of ground between
1951 and 1956 are thought to be the continuous reduction in
the number of rats arriving in the ports in ocean-going
vessels, the introduction of measures to reduce rat infestation
on coastal vessels, improvements in dockside buildings construction
and improved methods of rat control on land.
4. It is thought that the ship rat will lose more ground in the
next few years but can be expected to persist for a considerable
time yet, at least in London, Bristol and Liverpool, and
perhaps in Leith and Belfast.
RENT ACT, 1957
The following table gives a summary of the action taken in regard
to the issue of Certificates of Disrepair.