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2. Measures taken to prevent the passage of rats between ships and
shore-
The Port of London Authority have made bye-laws requiring
the master of every ship to cause all ropes and mooring tackle, to
be fitted with guards, to prevent rats from passing from ship to
shore. The bve-laws also prescribe that, when the discharge or
loading of cargo is not actually proceeding, one gangway, whitened
for a length of 10 feet at the end next the vessel, may be used as
a communication between the ship and the shore.
3. Methods of Deratisation of -
(a) SHIPS.
(i) The burning of sulphur at the rate of 3-lbs. per 1,000
cubic feet of space for a period of not less than 6 hours.
(ii) The generation of hydrocyanic acid gas by various methods.
For the destruction of rats a concentration of 0.2 per cent of HON
is required with a minimum exposure of 2 hours. If the
fumigation is for the destruction of insect life, bed bugs, cockroaches
etc., two or three times the concentration is employed and
the exposure increased up to twelve or even twenty-four hours,
according to the time available.
(iii) Trapping. All vessels from plague infected ports are
required to have traps set on board in order that specimens may, if
possible, be obtained for bacteriological examination. All other
vessels, on which there is evidence of rats, but not of such a
number as to justify a demand for fumigation, are required to carry
out trapping and this may be done, either by private firms approved
for the work, or by the staff of the Port Health Authority.
(b) PREMISES IN THE VICINITY OF THE DOCKS AND QUAYS.
This is now done under the Rodent Control Scheme referred
to else where in this Report.
4. Measures taken for the detection of rat prevalence in ships and
on shore.
Examination by Inspectors and Rodent Officers, as already
described.
5. Rat-proofing.
(a) To what extent are Docks, Wharves, Warehouses etc.,rat-proof?
During the war years nothing was done to render the dock
premises rat-proof, indeed many of the wharves and warehouses
suffered severely from enemy action but when the rebuilding of these
premises is possible, every effort will be made to see that the
recommendations made before the war are carried into effect.
(b)Action taken to extend rat-proofing ( i) in Ships (ii) on
shore.
This action has remained in abeyance during the war period
but will be actively pursued as soon as the post-war conditions
make this possible.
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