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increase in the rat population, such as the presence of empty war
damaged premises in which drainage fittings become unsealed and
permit the escape of rats from the drains, the necessity for householders
to save food scraps for pig food, the presence of debris on
bombed sites in which refuse is at times dumped, and so on.
In normal times most instances of rat infestation of premises
in the Borough are due to defective drains, and the problem has
been dealt with
(a) by the service of a notice upon the owner to repair the
drains;
(b) by advising the occupiers as to baiting and trapping;
(c) by keeping supplies of poison and traps in the Department
for sale to the public;
(d) by the service of a notice under the Rats and Mice
(Destruction) Act, 1919, where work is needed to ratproof
the premises to prevent reinfestation.
In cases where it was necessary for the occupiers to have
assistance in ridding their houses of rats, for instance in factories
or food premises, the occupiers were referred to a firm of ratcatchers
with whom the Council has for many years had an arrangement.
Prior to the war two workmen were employed on work connected
with rat infestation, such as the examination of drains, lifting
floorboards, etc., in order to trace rat runs and advising occupiers
of baiting and trapping methods, but under war-time conditions it
is necessary to employ six men on this work in addition to the men
who are employed upon sealing off from sewers the drain outlets
of houses demolished by enemy action and of sealing the drains
and sanitary fittings in unoccupied war-damaged premises.
The following is a summary of the measures taken during the
year to deal with rat infestation:—
(a) Number of premises from which complaints
of rat infestation were received 803
(b) Total number of premises in whiclh evidence
of rats was found and appropriate action
taken 817
(c) Number of poison baits laid by the Public
Health Dept. 6,864
(d) Number of premises at which other methods
were adopted 20
(e) Number of premises cleared of rats 779