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Rodent Control. The staff consists of an Assistant
Rodent Officer, 1 clerk 3 rodent investigators, and 7 operatives.
The work done by the Rodent Section of the Public Health
Department under the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries
(Infestation Division) Schemes, N.S.12 and N.S.19, for the
first three months of the year was under N.S.12, and the
remaining nine months under N.S.19. As 15 out of the 16
districts were completed in the 12 months ended 31st March,
1947, the remaining district was investigated and treated
under N.S.19.
Since 1st April, 1948, 12 districts have been investigated
and treated, and the remaining 4 districts will be
completed by the 31st March, 1949.
A "Block Control" scheme was successfully carried out at
the Spitalfields Market.
In addition, the riverside wharves were investigated and
10 wharves received treatment.
Open sites and derelict premises continue to be a source
of nuisance due to inability to treat them because of the
danger to the public and animals.
At the request of the Ministry's Technical Branch, live
and dead rats have been supplied to them for experimental
purposes, and included in one batch were three albino ship
rats, a rarity much appreciated by the experts, who state
that there have been only two other known albino specimens
among ship-rats in England. The specimens were skinned,
treated and mounted, and one was returned for instructional
purposes.
Business
premises Dwellings
No. of visits made by Rodent
Investigators 6,696 17,952
No. of infestations found 815 1,916
No. of treatments undertaken 522 1,722
No. of visits made by Rodent
Operatives 5,426 11,857
No. of prebaits laid 134,264
No. of poisoned baits laid 44,420
Estimated kill of rodents 9,700
No.of bodies recovered 989
No.of complaints received 1,101
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