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RAT DESTRUCTION
The rat reporting Campaign inaugurated in October, 1943, had
brought in 390 complaints up to the end of December, 1943, and a
further 87 complaints continued to come in until March, 1944.
A rat catcher was employed for 40 hours a week to deal with
works on Council properties and private properties on payment by
the occupiers.
The work was interrupted by the illness of the Rat Catcher and
it was found impossible to get other expert help. Up to April the
following work had been done :—
Council Properties—37 separate spells of pre-baiting and
poisoning.
Army billets—2 premises cleared.
Private Properties—102 separate premises and blocks of
premises inspected, pre-baited and poisoned.
In the latter part of the year it was not possible to continue the
work and inspections showed that the rat population has again
increased.
A special check was made of work done at the Electricity
Works and dust destructor and the following report shows very
clearly the efficacy of this method :—
RAT REPRESSION, CHURCHFIELDS DEPOT.
The attached siummary relates to measures oi rat repression
instituted at Churchfields Road Depot between the 29th October
and the 8th November, 1944. The work was carried out by a
private contractor, Mr. A. Wiles, who worked under my direction.
Mr. Wiles has in the past done a considerable amount of work on
rat repression for the Council.
The details given have been obtained from daily record sheets
which the operator was required to keep. The estimated number of
rats killed (478) may appear to compare unfavourably with the
actual number of dead rats found (72) ; nevertheless it should,
quite properly, be assumed that a more factual index to the success
of the operation is given by the figure quoted as the estimated kill.
This estimate is based upon a formula obtained by accurate research.
Rats suffering from the effects of poisoning do their utmost to get
back to their nests) and by far the greater majority succeed in so
doing before they die.
The infestation is now reduced to a minimum, and the premises
may be said to be as free from rats as is " reasonably practicable "
having regard to the nature of the business carried on. It is not
advisable that the matter should now be left. In such premises
regular inspection and constant work of repression is necessary.
A suggestion that the premises should be subjected at intervals of
two months to such measures of disinfestation as have been included
in the operations reported upon, has been made to the Borough
Electrical Engineer. If the suggestion is adopted, the severe rat
infestation existing before these operations commenced need never
recur. G. A. Webber,
Chief Sanitary Inspector.
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