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66
RATS AND MICE DESTRUCTION ACT.
I have received the following report from Mr. A. White:—
During the year considerable progress has been made in rat repression
in Southwark, and from observations made it would appear that the rat
menace in the Borough is not so acute as formerly.
No set procedure could be adopted in investigation, and each premises
visited had to be dealt with in an individual manner according to the
type of building, the locality in which it was situated, and the extent of
infestation. The usual method employed is to eliminate every known
factor until the point of ingress to the premises has been ascertained.
This involves considerable work being carried out by the Council as the
defect which causes the infestation is frequently found to be under the
Council's highways.
The system of investigation employed can be best illustrated when
the rat-proofing of the Lion Street area was undertaken. The preliminary
inspection revealed that it would be necessary for a considerable amount
of work to be carried out.
First, an examination of the Council's Sewer revealed that there
were a number of disused unsealed junctions; these were then sealed off.
Next, the frontage drains were exposed and several were found to be
defective; these were repaired at the owners' cost. The rats were then
very troublesome in many of the flats because their food and water supply
had been cut off.
Arrangements were then made with the owners of the premises to
accommodate the tenants elsewhere. The floorings of the tenements were
taken up and the rat runs were traced by means of the smoke machine.
This test revealed that the rats were still coming from the drains. All
main drains, branch drains and sewers in the immediate vicinity were
again uncovered, when many defects were revealed.
A considerable number of disused drains were found which had not
been sealed off, also three disused brick barrel drains which had not
been filled in. These defects were remedied. The owners then concreted
the site affected, also the dust chutes, and rendered them rat-proof.