June, ’18] 
BRAIN: MANURE STORAGE AND FLIES 
339 
STORAGE OF MANURE AND FLY SUPPRESSION AT DURBAN 
REMOUNT DEPOT 
By Charles K. Brain, M. Sc., 
Division of Entomology , Pretoria, South Africa 
During a recent visit to Durban, Natal, I had the pleasure of visiting 
the Transport and Remount Mobilization Dep6t which was established 
in November, 1915, in connection, chiefly, with the military operations 
in German East Africa. I am informed that during its existence ap¬ 
proximately 100,000 animals, mostly horses, mules and donkeys, have 
passed through this dep6t, and the average number maintained during 
most of the time has been about 3,300 with a maximum at any one time 
of 10,000. The chief interest, entomologically, lies in the fact that 
although this dep6t was situated on reclaimed swamp within fifteen 
minutes’ walk from the centre of the town, it has not caused the slight¬ 
est inconvenience to the inhabitants and there has been an entire 
absence of smell and house-fly nuisance. 
This is entirely due to the energy and common-sense methods of the 
O. C., Major W. F. Averre, and since some of the control measures are 
not identical with those generally recommended, I give the details as 
evolved as the work proceeded. 
It may be remarked that the climatic conditions of Durban are ad¬ 
mirably suited to the rapid multiplication of house-flies, and the ques¬ 
tion of successfully storing large deposits of stable manure in close 
proximity to towns and camps has always been a difficult one but one 
of particular importance at such a time as the present. The Remount 
Depot in question is located at Lord’s Grounds, the Agricultural Show 
Grounds of Durban, a town of some 70,000 inhabitants; as this site 
was not sufficiently large (25 acres), surrounding ground was taken in 
until an area of approximately 60 acres was involved. The show ground 
itself is low-lying, mainly composed of reclaimed swamp, and within 
half a mile of the coast. An additional 10 acres, which had been lev¬ 
elled and drained for use as a sports’ ground, were first added and later 
some 25 acres of undeveloped and undrained vlei land with occasional 
sand-dunes completed the extent of 60 acres. Over this whole area 
drains and roads were constructed, the latter top-dressed with cinders, 
and paddocks were enclosed. The buildings already existing on the 
show ground were utilized for housing the staff, which numbered some 
seven hundred when in full force. The means employed for fly control 
consisted of constant attention to the collection of dung, none being 
allowed to remain for twenty-four hours, the systematic storage and 
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