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A test bait is made of 1 Cffo of the soil sewer manholes in the district,
from the results of which are based the two maintenance treatments of the
sewers required by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as one
of the conditions under which the Ministry pay 50% of the Council's rodent
control expenses.
The test bait in April resulted in five complete "takes" and no
partial "takes" of bait out of one hundred and one manholes baited.
In the maintenance treatment carried out during May, thirty-six manholes
were baited resulting in twelve "takes" and in November, forty-one
were baited with thirteen "takes".
These results show an increase on the previous two years, but there is
no reason to believe that our methods are failing. In fact, due to the
vigilance of your Rodent Operator, defects in two drainag© systems were
found which permitted rats to get into and out of the sewer system. These
defects were remedied and it is to be hoped that infestations will not now
recur in those sewers.
No charge is made for the use of the Rodent Operator's services in
treating private domestic premises, provided that the occupiers co-operate
in carrying out their duties under the Act.
The cost of treatments at all other premises is recoverable.
OTHER INFESTATIONS.
Members of the public seem more concerned with infestations of all kinds
of insects than previously and advice was given in respect of ninety-eight
infestations of a wide variety of insects and animals, e.g. wasps, various
beetles, ants, cockroaches, fleas, foxes, etc. In this work we are assisted
by the identification services of the British Museum (Natural History Section) ,
the staff of which have on several occasions given a prompt answer to our
enquiries. Small quantities of liquid or powder insecticides are distributed
and in a few cases your Inspectors assist in the work of disinfesting by the
loan of a power sprayer.
In October, the Council resolved that a charge of 2/6d should be made for
the destruction of wasps nests.