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37
Second Treatment (No.22)
Pre-Baiting 14th & 15th November, 1955
Poison Baiting 16th November, I955
Check or Poison Bait 17th November, 1955
Bait base ana poison used Sausage rusk and zinc
phosphide
269 manholes were baited and 161 showed "takes" or pre-bait.
The estimated kill based on "takes" of poison bait was 940.
It will be seen from the record of complaints received that the
trend for rat complaints to reduce and mice complaints to increase
continues. There is no doubt that the reason for the reduction of
rat complaints is direct result of the policy of the Council over
many years of opening up rat runs to trace the source to defective
drainage.
In an extremely high percentage of cases, rat complaints are
traced to a defective drain or sewer, and once this defect has been
established, action under Section 40, Public Health (London) Act,
1936, results in the drain being placed in order and the nuisance
from rats being eradicated.
The increase in complaints of mice is small, but I feel sure
reflects the fact that the public is becoming increasingly aware of the
free services obtainable from the Council for the eradication of
these pests. The use of "Warfarin" has been found of increasing
service in the eradication of mice.
In dealing with rat nuisance the treatment of the Council's
sewers is of increasing importance. as will be seen from the
charts of infestation, the Council's sewers continue to remain
heavily infested particularly in the more densely populated southern
portion of the Borough. As has been previously stated, whilst the
rat population has on no occasion been found to approach that of 1943
when the treatments were instituted, the present treatments are haying
the result of containing the population at a steady level without achieving
any appreciable reduction,,
This aspect of Rodent Control is of great concern to the Council
as there is no doubt that if a greater clearance of rats in the sewers
could be achieved, it would have a marked effect in the degree of
surface infestation.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries are conducting experiments
to see if the present biennial treatments can be improved and
it is to be hoped that these experiments may lead to more efficient
methods being employed.