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The amount received by the Council from property owners tor the services ot the Rat
Officer during the year ended 31st March, 1937, was £26 5s. and, in addition, £5 was credited
to the department for the services of the Rat Officer to other departments of the Council.
NATIONAL RAT WEEK.
During National Rat Week held from November 4th to 9th the Rat Officer paid special
attention to the sewers in the Borough, and laid 16,500 baits in the stunt ends of 12 pipe
sewers which are known to harbour rats in 112 streets. While, of course, it is difficult to
to estimate the number of rats destroyed as a result of this action, it is satisfactory to note that
the majority of the baits were taken.
A circular letter pointing out the need for the destruction of rats and giving advice concerning
this, was circulated to all factories and large workshops in the Borough with a request
that it should be displayed on the staff notice boards. A copy was also sent to the three newspapers
circulating in the Borough.
A number of posters from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries were purchased and
exhibited on the Council's vehicles and outside public buildings during the week.
NUISANCE FROM PIGEONS.
Section 121 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, continues the power of the Council
tc abate or mitigate any nuisance caused by pigecns having no owner, subject to the consent of the
owner of the land or buildings upon which the birds congregate.
During the year special traps were set up on the roof of a private house, the Fulham
Hospital and the Town Hall. As a result of this action 110 pigeons were caught and killed.
SHOP ACT, 1934.
During the year, the sanitary inspectors made 388 inspections of shops under the abovenamed
Act in connection with ventilation, temperature and sanitary conveniences. Thirty-two
intimation and two statutory notices were served regarding these matters and five certificates
under Section 10 of the Act exempting shops from the provision of sanitary conveniences were
issued. All the certificates were issued on the ground of restricted accommodation making it
impossible for the conveniences to be provided or. the premises. In three cases, the use of water
closet compartments as sculleries was discontinued, and in six cases water closet accommodation
was provided as the result of action by the sanitary inspectors.