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RODENT CONTROL.
The staff throughout the year consisted of the
Assistant Rodent Officer, 1 clerk, 3 investigators,
1 foreman rodent operative and 6 operatives, and the
following work was done by this section under the Ministry
of Agriculture & Fisheries (Infestation Division) Scheme
N.S .19:
Business
Premises Dwellings
No. of visits by investigators 5,115 11,342
No. of infestations found 488 l,65l
No. of treatments undertaken 315 1,568
No. of visits made by operatives 3,264 10,018
No. of pre-baits laid 92,056
No. of poisoned baits laid 32,190
Estimated kill of rodents 6,001
No. of bodies recovered 721
No. of drain tests requested 498
No. of drains found to be defective 94
No. of 'Complaints' received 1,114
During the year 16 districts have been investigated and
treatments given where necessary.
All the riverside wharves were investigated and treatment
given in 20 cases.
There is a decided improvement in the rat infestation on
open sites since the clearance of rubbish during the year.
'MAINTENANCE TREATMENTS' FOR DESTRUCTION OF RATS IN SEWERS.
The Borough Engineer & Surveyor has kindly supplied me
with the following information.
In accordance with Local Authority Circular N.S.No.6
(dated 29th August 1944) issued by the Ministry of Food
(Infestation Division) two treatments for the destruction
of rats in Sewers were carried out during the year, viz.
from 13th June 1949 to 26th July 1949 (inclusive) and from
5th December 1949 to 19th January 1950 (inclusive).
The system adopted was that recommended, viz. 2 days
pre-baiting and 1 day poison baiting. The pre-bait used was
damped sausage rusks and the poison zinc-phosphide (2½%).
1,469 manholes were treated during the first period and
1,509 during the second period.
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