249 



naake an appropriation of $2,680 for an attempt to reduce the num- 

 ber of rats within the community." These attempts were continued 

 during the period May, 1901, to September, 1902, 2.68 cents being 

 paid for each rat caught. Any unusual mortaUty among rats on 

 board a vessel coming from a plague-infected port was being dealt 

 with in accordance with a rOyal proclamation of June 16, 1905. 



In Malmo, according to the consular agent, the authorities during 

 the past seven years had given a premium for every rat killed during 

 the first five years, 2.68 cents for each rat, but during the past two 

 years only half of that amount. 



DESTRUCTION OF RATS IN ENGLISH PORTS. 



The Local Government Board has issued regulations for the pre- 

 vention of plague and certain other diseases. One of these regula- 

 tions is as follows: 



The master of a ship which by reason of plague is an infected ship, or a suspected 

 ship, or which has come from, or has during the voyage called at, a port infected 

 with plague, or in which there are rata infected with plague, or in which there is or 

 has been during the voyage an unusual mortality among rats, shall, under the direc- 

 tion and to the satisfaction of the medical officer of health, take all such precautions 

 or employ all such means for effectually stopping the access of rats from the ship to 

 the shore as in the opinion of the medical officer of health are measures reasonably 

 necessary for the prevention of danger arising to public health from the ship. 



In accordance with this regulation, notice was given in a circular 

 issued by the medical officer of health of the port of London of the 

 precaoitions necessary for stopping the access of rats from ship to 

 shore in that port. These precautions were outlined as follows: 



1. All ropes and mooring tackle for securing the vessel either to the shore or mooring 

 buoys shall be fitted with metal brushes, funnels, or other effective guards, the portions 

 of such ropes and mooring tackle leading from the vessel to a distance from the vessel's 

 side of at least 4 feet shall be coated each night with fresh tar. Ropes may, if 

 desired, be protected by a covering of canvas or yarns before tarring. 



2. When not engaged in discharging cargo, one gangway only shall be permitted to 

 afford means of communication between the ship and the shore. 



3. The end of the gangway near the ship shall be whitened for a length of 10 feet, and 

 the watchman shall keep the gangway pulled inboard after sunset, or it shall be 

 guarded in some approved manner. 



4. When alongside the quay, the ports on the side of the vessel nearest the quay shall 

 be kept closed after sunset. 



5. All empty cases and barrels, especially those from the storerooms, shall be exam- 

 ined before being landed, to insure that no rats are contained therein. 



6 It is recommended that all possible means be adopted for catching and destroying 

 rats both on the voyage and during the stay of the vessel in port. Any rats so caught 

 shall be killed, then placed in a bucket of strong disinfecting solution, and afterwards 

 burnt in the ship's furnace. 



7 No rats, alive or dead, are to be removed from the ship without my permission in 



writing. 



In London, the practice of destroying rats on the docks had been 

 systematically carried out by the dock companies at their own expense 



