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The inspection of imported food has ceased as no cargoes are being worked. The number of
ship inspections has been drastically reduced as so few ships are arriving.
Mention should however be made of a "rush'' inspection of ss. "Oronsay (27,631 tons)
on Monday 11th October, 1954 for a new Deratting Exemption Certificate. This ship would
normally have arrived on 4th October for voyage repairs after a season's cruising, and to load
for Australia. In the exceptional circumstances she arrived on 11th October at 11 a.m. having
carried out the repairs at a Continental port, and sailed without cargo on 11th October. To
ensure that the new Deratting Exemption Certificate was available by sailing time, it was necessary
to complete the inspection on Monday, 11th October. This was done by having the Inspector
and both Rodent Officers on the job.
The reduction in the number of ships allowed the staff to concentrate first on barges and
lighters in the Dock, and when these were completed, a systematic search of the shore premises,
followed by 'Operations' where the evidence justified such procedure. A successful "Block
Operation" with '1080' was carried out on Sheds 22-26. The evidence of rat infestation in this
area was small, nevertheless 5 brown rats were recovered after the '1080' operation.
The Workshops at the North end of the Dock belonging to Harland & Wolff, John Mowlem,
Blundell & Crompton, and the Port of London Authority (Hydraulic Station) have for some time
past had a small but persistent mouse infestation which has been difficult to deal with as the
shops were always busy. The whole area is now being treated with dry Warfarin baits with
success. Owing to the Strike, the shops are now quiet and unoccupied; also there is now no
alternative supply of food from crumbs, etc., which has previously been such a trouble.
An Operation was started at the Refuse Tip on the 28th September last before the Strike
started, but it has been possible on this occasion to "follow up" for a much longer period than
usual. The semi-permanent baits laid on the 1st October are still kept up, but are now largely
inactive. So far 65 rats have been recovered from this operation but it is not expected that
many more rats will be recovered. The undergrowth in the vicinity of the refuse tip is now so
dense that it is improbable that more than 25% of the rats killed have been recovered.
India and Millwall Docks.
In the earlier stages of the Strike no noticeable effect on the routine duties was apparent
as vessels were arriving and sailing as usual. Then as the effect on shipping began to take place
and as the P.L.A. Permanent Dockers were still employed, there was a great drive by importers
generally to obtain delivery of all foodstuffs. This necessitated constant inspection and supervision
of any sorting operations.
When the Strike spread and the P.L.A. permanent staff ceased work, all routine work
virtually ended. The opportunity was consequently taken to do rodent control work which it had
not been possible to do during the normal work of the docks. For instance, Central Granary
normally works throughout the twenty-four hours with the various floors constantly changing
their quantities of bulk grain and therefore in the past it has not been possible to treat the
Granary to full satisfaction. The opportunity has been taken during the quiet period to treat
with full staff the complete Granary in one operation, as a result of which 42 rats were recovered.
This procedure was also carried out at McDougall's Granary, where 11 rats and 1 mouse were
recovered. Central Granary was given a second treatment later, when a further 14 bodies were
recovered.
In addition to these large scale operations, routine inspections, as far as possible, of those
vessels entering port and of all premises under the Rodent Control Scheme have been carried
out.
Warehouses known to contain perishable foodstuffs have been visited daily to ascertain the
condition of the foodstuffs. So far no great deterioration has been discovered, except for one
instance where three cases containing various provisions had to be seized.
Surrey Commercial and London Docks.
Both groups of docks have suffered heavily as far as ship arrivals and movement of cargoes
are concerned with the result that the scope for Port Health activity has been restricted and
reduced to the maintenance of sanitary standards aboard idle ships and the shore premises.
Regular visits have been made to warehouses into which foodstuffs have been imported and
limited inspections of the commodities carried out as deemed necessary. There has not been
any apparent deterioration in the stored foodstuffs and no detentions or seizures have been
made. Close contact between H.M. Customs, Port of London Authority and the Port Health
Authority has been maintained at the various food centres.
Ships have been revisited to ascertain health and sanitary conditions and rodent control
inspections have been carried out on ships and craft as far as possible.
The lull in food warehouse activity has afforded the opportunity to carry out some experimental
work with a new type of rodenticide which may prove an additional useful weapon for
the destruction of rodents.
More detailed inspections have been possible in connection with the sanitation of all shore
premises, including general cleanliness, fresh water supplies, latrine accommodation, refuse
collection and disposal, rodent control, etc.
Advantage has been taken to carry out sanitary work in any branch which would normally
be more difficult and the Port of London Authority Officers have co-operated fully whenever
requested to do so.
Lower River.
Until the 20th October the Strike had little effect on the number of ships boarded in this
district. Oil tankers and colliers were arriving as usual at the main discharging wharves. Since
then new arrivals have dropped considerably although a number of vessels with cargoes for the
riverside wharves are berthed at Gravesend Buoys. There have nevertheless been several smaller
craft for inspection and the opportunity has been taken to inspect houseboats. All refuse barges
are lying empty at their moorings.
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