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letter was posted to occupiers of those premises in the City that are specially liable
to rat infestation by reason of the nature of the business carried on, and these
included the following:—
1.—The occupiers of refreshment rooms, tea shops, cafes, etc.
2.—The managers of railways and railway depots and stations. Seven railway companies
operate in the City area.
3.—The occupiers of licensed premises (Public Houses). There are 299 of these premises in
the City.
4.—The managers of 36 wharves in Upper and Lower Thames Street.
5.—The superintendents of the Markets—Billingsgate, Leadenhall and the Central Meat
Markets.
Letters were also sent to the City Surveyor with reference to Corporation
property under his control and to the City Engineer concerning rat destruction in
the sewers. With regard to the sewers, Mr. Engineer has informed me that during
rat week the ordinary use of poisoned bait in the sewers was augmented by an
organised drive, carried out in those sewers where rats were most likely to be
found, and 78 were killed. He also states that generally the number of rats in the
City sewers appears to be decreasing, and this he attributes to the reduction in the
number of breeding places through the systematic bricking up of disused sewers
and drains and the repairing of defective ones, and the regular use of various
poisoned baits.
In this connection, however, it should be remembered that the activities in
rat repression above ground by the general public have led to the destruction of
many thousands of rats which have emerged from the sewers and this must be
considered as a very important factor in bringing about the improved state of affairs
mentioned by the City Engineer.
The response made by the firms circularised was very satisfactory, and all
concerned were willing to help in carrying out the request made for a special effort
during the week. But most of the firms pointed out that their rat repression work
was organised and continuous throughout the year. As poisons were the chief
means of destruction, it is of course impossible to give any estimate of the number
of rats killed, as by this method the results are not always apparent. One firm of
ratcatchers, Messrs. Dalton and Sons, report that during the week they captured
884 rats in City premises. The manager of one large hotel states that the building
is entirely free from rats and this he attributes to the ratproofing of the premises
carried out in 1921, and the instructions issued to the whole staff immediately to
report the suspected presence of rats either in, upon, or adjacent to the premises.
In some cases an employee is specially detailed to the matter of rat riddance, and is
paid a small sum weekly for this work in addition to his wages. Varnish traps have
been and are extensively used; many business firms use this exclusively as it is found
to be the most effective of all traps used for inside work. One hotel manager who
uses nothing else reports that 2,500 rats have been caught in the hotel on these
traps in the last three and a half years, and he prefers this method to all others. A
daily record of all rats caught is kept.
Several firms have had good results from introducing cats into their buildings.
Large numbers are kept at some of the wharves, one firm of wharfingers in Lower
Thames Street, keeps no less than 50; poison is put down daily at this wharf and
traps are also used with the result that the buildings are not infested to any great
extent. This firm attributes its success not altogether to the methods adopted
but rather to the fact that its efforts are continuous.
Rat-catchers are engaged on contract in many of the multiple tea shops, restaurants,
hotels and business premises.
Several vacant building sites in the City were dealt with under the supervision
of the Department and all necessary information was given to representatives of
firms who called at the office for advice.
VIRUS.—In the course of routine inspection it has been observed that virus
is still being very largely used in many premises, this in spite of the discouragement
of its use by the Ministry of Agriculture and representation made by the City Corporation
to the Government. The experience gained in the City does not bear out