762 



Modern Method of Kat Destruction. 



[Nov., 



Note. — .Reasonable care should be taken when using Barium Carbonate bait 

 to prevent domestic animals or poultry obtaining access thereto. 



Gassing Rats. — Sulphur dioxide, applied from a Clayton machine or a 

 cylinder, as well as carbon bi-sulphide properly applied, can be used to gas 

 rats. Acetylene gas, generated by water dripping on calcium carbide, can 

 also be used. 



Traps. — " Six-inch " rabbit traps are more humane than the smaller ones 

 generally used. Breakback traps properly set are good. Gins and snares 

 catch many rats in a countryside. 



Dogs and Ferrets are useful to clear an area after poisoning, and give good 

 sport. 



Mice. — The poisoned baits for destroying rats will also kill mice, but the 



bait should be smaller. Traps are used with greater effect to catch mice than 



rats. Keep pantries and food stores under proper supervision and see that 



the food of birds in cages cannot be got at by mice. 



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Since the introduction of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 

 1919, the Ministry of Agriculture, County Councils, and other 



a tut a mr tii a l° ca * governing bodies have adopted various 

 A iw.od,ern ivietnou n , . . ■, . c , i 



„ _ means to right the rat menace 01 the 



01 JtCdit country 

 Destruction. mm j- re cent and efficacious method 



is the use of sulphur dioxide gas. The gas is generated within a 

 cylindrical vessel by burning sulphur and the sulphur dioxide 

 is forced, by means of a fan, to the rat runs through a flexible 

 metallic tubing at high pressure. Within four or five minutes 

 the rats are suffocated, provided that care has been taken to 

 block the exits to prevent bolting. It is well to have two or three 

 well-trained dogs stationed near by to kill rats which may bolt 

 from holes overlooked. 



The bucks are generally the first to bolt. Does which have a 

 litter will remain with their young to the end. A rat that bolts 

 after the first minute or so of gassing is usually partly overcome 

 and is an easy prey for the dogs. 



By excavation of a portion of the area thus treated, sufficient 

 evidence of the efficiency of this method may be obtained; also 

 a point worth mentioning is the fact that other rats will be reluc- 

 tant to establish themselves in the same place. 



In this manner large rat-infested areas may be thoroughly and 

 expeditiously treated. It is applicable on estates, farms, hedge- 

 rows, railway embankments and buildings of all kinds. 



It is, however, only by active and determined co-operation 

 between occupiers of rat-infested zones and the administrative 

 authorities that the rat danger in this country will be controlled 

 and will eventually be brought down to a minimum. 



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