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16
A large amount of money is expended annually by the Dock Companies in
the destruction of rats, but I am sure they do not get complete value for the
money spent, and I feel confident if the same amount were expended by this
Authority the number destroyed would be considerably increased, as it would
then be possible to directly control the work of the professional ratcatcher.
The French Government has decreed that all vessels coming from or
touching at a plague infected port must be fumigated, with a view to the
killing of all rats on board, before any cargo is allowed to be landed in a
French port, and the cost of this has to be borne by the shipowners.
This rigorous procedure is in strong contrast" with the practice in the Port
of London, where shipowners are only invited to co-operate with this
Authority in preventing, as far as possible, rats from going on shore, and to
capture as many rats as possible during the stay of the vessel in the Port.
It should be clearly understood that all rats captured are destroyed, and
are not allowed to leave the jurisdiction of this Authority.
Details of the number of rats destroyed during the year are set out in
Table Y.