DESTHUCTIVE HABITS OF THE EAT. 
163 
pass through the sides, though in numberless instances they 
have eaten half-way, which has led to strong discussions as 
to the reasoning powers of the rat ; but Mr. Jesse, I be- 
lieve, gives the most correct reason ; he believes that they 
gnaw through the sides till the wood becomes distasteful 
from the effects of the salt water with which it is constantly 
saturated, and which renders it so disgusting and offensive 
to their tongues, that they desist from further operations — 
not from the power of reason which would apprehend 
danger, but from the saline deposits towards the outer sur- 
face of the wood, which is both loathsome and nauseous to 
their palates, and hence the safety of ships. 
If ships in general had on board a number of such 
passengers as had the good steam-ship Ohio, when she 
arrived at San Francisco, not only the interior of ships, 
but the cargoes also, would be greatly preserved from the 
ravages of rats. The Ohio had on board over a hundred 
cats, for which they paid at the rate of sixpence each, and 
at California sold them for from ten to twenty dollars per 
.cat. This may give some idea of the vast quantities of rats 
in the gold-regions. 
When the steam frigate Terrible^ under the command 
of Captain Hope, returned from the Mediterranean, and 
was lying at Woolwich, she was found to be swarming 
with rats, notwithstanding the numbers that had been daily 
killed by the officers and crew with sticks while running 
about the cabins and other parts of the vessel. A rat-catcher 
was had on board, who, in the course of three days, caught 
over 400 alive, and the ship was afterwards fumigated, to 
suffocate the remainder. 
The mischief done by rats on board ship is not confined 
to the victualling department only, but anything composed of 
vellum or parchment, whether in the shape of wills, deeds, 
or directions, equally suffers from their predatious propen- 
sities. The West-Indian steamer Prince, on one occasion, 
brought back the European mails, in consequence of the 
rats having eaten off all the parchment labels. It is curious 
that rats will not touch leather bags of a tan colour, but are 
extremely fond of parchment. Some time since a will in 
England was required in Demerara, and, after a great deal of 
trouble and expense, it was obtained and sent out ; but 
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