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During the year three "Direct" poison treatments and the annual overall test were carried
out. These were applied in March, June, September and December, and an average of 370 sewer
manholes were poison baited "Direct" in the 1st, 3rd and 4th treatments. The toxic agent in
the two former controls was Fluoroacetamide and in the latter instance Zinc Phosphide. The
annual overall test baiting of all available manholes was applied in June, and in this instance
379 manholes were non-poison test baited. The test baits, which provide some evidence of the
results of the previous "Direct" poison treatments, and in effect, act as a pre-bait, were left
down two days, and where, on examination, they were found to be taken, were replaced by poison
bait, in this instance. Sodium Fluoroacetate (1080). The test bait result was 60 "takes" (29
complete and 31 partial), which is 7.6% complete "takes". The comparable result in 1966 was
8.1% and in 1965, 7.5% and the low level obtained by these treatments over the years has been
maintained.
The importance of hygiene in relation to rodent control, embracing effective food storage,
proper waste disposal, and the elimination of structural and incidental harbourage cannot be over
emphasized. Rats and mice are commensal creatures, dependent on man for their food and housing
and, therefore, the maintenance of good general conditions, whatever the usage of the property,
is essential, and control measures should be regarded as supplementary to hygiene.
PIGEONS
Despite the measures carried out in the past there has been a general tendency for the pigeon
population in the City to increase. In view of the complaints received as a consequence of this
increase, it was found necessary to make more concentrated efforts at the various trouble spots
in the City where the numbers of pigeons had become inconveniently high.
The reduction of the excessive numbers of birds is undertaken by the Corporation's Contractor
who is licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and it is only after consultation
with that Ministry that the necessary measures can be put in hand.
It is a fact that pigeons are becoming an ever-increasing source of nuisance and unfortunately,
members of the general public increase the difficulties, as well as the expense, of dealing with
this problem, by their thoughtless persistence in feeding these birds.

CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS
Before establishing a catering business, application is made for planning approval and applications
are referred by the City Architect to the Medical Officer of Health, with a view to advising
the developers on whether the premises will be suitable from a public health aspect.
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