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34
Sewer Treatments
During the year, two treatments of the Council's sewers were carried
out as follows:—
First Treatment (No. 13).
This was carried out as follows:—
Pre-Baiting .
Poison Baiting
Check of Poison Bait
22nd and 23rd May, 1951
24th May, 1951
25th May, 1951
270 Manholes were baited and 229 showed "takes" of pre-bait. The
estimated kill based on "takes" of poison bait was 1,615.
Second Treatment (No. 14).
This was carried out as follows:—
Pre-Baiting
Poison Baiting
Check of Poison Bait
10th and 11th December, 1951
12th December, 1951
13th December, 1951
264 Manholes were baited and 234 showed "takes" of pre-bait. The
estimated kill based on "takes" of poison bait was 1,160.
The infestation in the sewers appears to have reached the stage when
the treatments are maintaining the population at a steady level. It is, of
course, only possible to bait sewers where access is available by means
of manholes, side entrances, etc., and there are a number of roads where
baiting cannot be carried out by reason of the fact that no access has
been provided on the sewer. Therefore, rats in these sewers are not
affected by the treatment carried out and can spread by breeding into the
rest of the system.
At the same time, this is a very good form of rodent control, the
effectiveness of these treatments in dealing with rats in their habitat and
before they can cause nuisance to the general public is not realised by
the general public, the majority of whom, of course, have no knowledge
of its being carried out or its beneficial effect.
The following is a summary of the work of the rodent operative:—
No. of operative's calls 2,157
„ „ premises pre-baited and treated with poison 139
„ „ premises investigated and found not troubled 74
„ „ pre-baits and poison baits laid 2,124
„ „ drains found defective 29
„ „ rats estimated killed 714