RATS. 93 



Summary of Recommendations. — The following are 

 important aids in limiting the numbers of rats and reducing 

 the losses from their depredations : 



1. Protection of our native hawks, owls, and smaller 

 predatory mammals — the natural enemies of rats. 



2. Greater cleanliness about stables, markets, grocery 

 stores, warehouses, courts, alleys, and vacant lots in cities and 

 villages, and like care on farms and suburban premises. 

 This includes the storage of waste and garbage in tightly 

 covered vessels and the prompt disposal of it each day. 



3. iCare in the construction of buildings and drains, so 

 as not to provide entrance and retreats for rats, and the 

 permanent closing of all rat holes in old houses and cellars. 



4. The early threshing and marketing of grains on 

 farms, so that stacks and mows shall not furnish harborage 

 and food for rats. 



5. Removal of outlying straw stacks and piles of trash 

 or lumber that harbor rats in the fields. 



6. Rat-proofing of warehouses, markets, cribs, stables 

 and granaries for storage of provisions, seed grain, and feed- 

 stuffs. 



7. Keeping effective rat dogs, especially on farms and 

 in city warehouses. 



8. The systematic destruction of rats, whenever and 

 wherever possible, by (a) trapping, (b) poisoning, and (c) 

 organized hunts. 



9. The organization of rat clubs and other societies for 

 systematic warfare against rats. 



While there is much of value in the foregoing 

 taken from the writing of Mr. David E. Lantz, 

 and printed at Washington, too much depend- 

 ence should not be put in poisoning. It may be 



