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regularly inspected and treatments were carried out where
and when necessary. In addition to these attacks against
the rat population on the surface, two treatments of the
sewers were carried out in the months of August and December.
The number of manholes shewing signs of use by rats was
29 and 20 respectively. When these treatments were first
started in 1947, 55 manholes were found to be infested.
As a result of these various activities it is estimated that
some 1900 rats were destroyed. A further 42 premises
were treated where there were infestations by mice. A
total of 1374 visits were made by the rodent operative in
connection with these operations. It was not necessary
to take any legal proceedings under the Prevention of
Damage by Pests Act 1949 in order to free premises or land
or to secure such structural repairs as were found necessary.
The reduction in the number of premises found to be in
a verminous state previously noted has continued and only
five dwellings were shewn to be infested by bed-bugs. All
were sucessfully treated.
There was an increase in the number of wasp nests in
respect of which assistance was sought and thirty-one were
destroyed. We first started to deal with these nests where
they were in situations causing concern to users of the
public footways, but subsequently our help was asked to
destroy nests in a variety of locations. We will continue
to give what aid we can but our resources are sometimes
strained particularly where the nests are situated in the
eaves or roof spaces of houses.
Innumerable requests for advice and assistance were
dealt with in connection with other infestations, particularly
by ants, furniture beetles or moths, and to a lesser extent
the many types of insects which infest foodstuffs or
invade the home. One Colorado beetle found in an
imported lettuce was brought to the Department as were many
other insects and beetles thought to be Colorado beetles.
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