.718 



Ke SEARCH (Rat) Laboratory. 



[Nov., 



be fish. In India, however, it is found that a bait similar to 

 their usual diet is most successful. 



The baits prepared at the Factory are supplied to the various 

 Government Departments, and a few notes on the organisation 

 of this side of the work may be of interest. The Office of Works 

 have three rat officials, who were trained by the Ministry's 

 technical staff. These men work under the direction of the 

 chemist-in-charge, to whom complaints of infestation in the 

 London area are sent. The building is then inspected and suit- 

 able treatment applied, the bait being drawn direct from the 

 Factory. Cases of difficulty are referred to the Eat Destruction 

 Branch, when arrangements are made for inspection and advice 

 by the technical staff. Bait is also supplied on application 

 for use at H.M. Office of Works buildings in the provinces; at 

 Admiralty and War Office establishments at home and abroad, 

 and at other buildings and areas occupied by Government 

 Departments. In general the treatment has succeeded in ending 

 the nuisance or greatly reducing it. Many of the buildings 

 ti'eated are in badly-infested areas and continuous efforts have 

 to be made to effect permanent improvement, but even in the 

 worst cases persistent efforts with varying bait, supplemented 

 by trapping, have been successful. 



