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Sanitary Inspection of the Borough. 85
decided, towards the end of 1936, to appoint a Rat Catcher and an
Assistant Rat Catcher for a period of one year. These appointments
were afterwards extended and the work has been carried on during
1938.
These officers work in conjunction with the Sanitary Inspectors
and visit premises where their services are required. Dogs and
ferrets are employed for the destruction of rats, and the Rat Catcher
gives advice to householders on the steps which should be taken
to render their premises rat-proof.
931 rat complaints were received during the year. The Rat
Catcher made 1,896 visits and a considerable number of rats were
destroyed.
For some years it has been the practice of the Council to lay
rat baits in the sewers, and this has been continued during the year
by the Borough Engineer's staff. In addition to the laying of
baits as a matter of routine, 5,123 baits were laid during National
Rat Week and 3,586 were taken by rats.
Shops Act, 1934.
953 inspections of shops have been made to ascertain if the
provisions of the above Act respecting ventilation, temperature
and sanitary conveniences for the use of the persons employed in
the shop were complied with. In one case it was necessary for
a notice to be served for an infringement, and this has been complied
with.
Swimming Baths and Bathing Pools.
There are four public swimming baths and one open air
swimming bath belonging to the Council, one open air swimming
bath owned by the London County Council, one public swimming
pool privately owned, and 14 private bathing pools in the Borough.
The Queensmere pond on Wimbledon Common has also for many
years past been a recognised bathing pond.
In four of the Council's swimming baths, the water is purified
by a process of continuous circulation through a filtration plant