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railways, commercial undertakings, business houses, property agents, builders and
others concerned in the Borough, including, in particular, the occupiers of premises
where food is prepared or sold, were circularised and invited to join in the organised
attack which was made. That these methods of disseminating knowledge of the
problem and the means of destroying the vermin stimulated widespread interest,
was evidenced by the number of enquiries received in the Department. It is apparent
that the larger stores and railways keep a vigilant watch for the presence of rats and
mice, and are very keen to do all they can to prevent the likelihood of infestation.
With the circulars sent from the Department there was issued the Ministry's booklet
on " Rats and how to exterminate them " together with a copy of an extract from
the annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1936, dealing with rat repression.
The advice contained in the booklet, it is understood, was found to be
helpful, and full advantage was taken of the special experience of the Public Health
Department in dealing with the problem.
Co-operation with neighbouring boroughs was once more secured, and added
interest in this connection was given to this year's campaign in the attention directed
towards the best methods of rat destruction in sewers. Practical tests in the Borough
have shown that trapping by means of traps of the so-called " break-back " variety
has particular value. A great point to be borne in mind about rats in relation to
sewers is that the channels are only feeding and not nesting places, being too wet
for the latter purpose. The rat always prefers and seeks for a dry spot in which to
make his living and breeding place, which renders the problem of extermination all
the more difficult.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has repeatedly insisted that the
destruction of rats and mice is essentially a matter for combined effort, and reviewing
the results of past Rat Weeks, when determined attempts have been made
by the Council to secure co-operation, which has been so successfully continued this
time, it is evident that reduction in, if not abatement of, the nuisance has been
achieved."
PIGEONS.
Under section 52 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1927,
the Council is empowered to seize and destroy, sell, or otherwise dispose of, or cause
to be seized, etc., house doves or pigeons in excessive numbers, if they believe them
to be without an owner. Ten complaints (seven relating to private dwellings and
three to public buildings) were made in 1937, as against three in 1936. As in other
years, as much assistance as possible was given by the inspector in charge of this
work to reduce the nuisance.
MOSQUITOES.
During the month of August complaints were received from residents in the
Abbey Road area of a serious infestation by mosquitoes, and upon investigation it
was found that these insects were breeding in a number of unprotected water supply
cisterns, and, in particular and more seriously, in an ornamental pool at the rear
of an unoccupied house, and in the stagnant water lying in the basement of an unfinished
building. In every instance steps were taken by the owners to prevent a
continuance of the trouble by cleansing and protecting the cisterns and by continued
oiling of the pools.
FOULING OF FOOTWAYS BY DOGS.
Early in the year the Public Health Committee determined to undertake more
intensive action in connection with this matter. With this object, and in order
to obtain more effective enforcement of the provisions of the bye-law, the Committee,
with the permission of the Council, engaged the services of a temporary
officer (graded as “Streets Nuisance Inspector”) as from the 22nd February, 1937.
As a result of the carrying out of close and routine observations, breach of the byelaws
was detected in 89 cases, in all of which, following prosecution, convictions