554 NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE
within its district require him to take such necessary and reasonably practicable
steps as are prescribed by the notice, for preventing the escape of rats and
mice from the ship, and if the Master fails to comply with the requirements
of any such notice he shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not
exceeding Twenty Pounds.
REQUIREMENTS OF LOCAL AUTHORITY.
(A) To prevent the passage of rats from the vessel to the wharf, the
following precautions must be taken:—
(1) Rat guards should be affixed to mooring ropes in such manner that the
passage of rats from the ship to the wharf is prevented; or
(2) The moorings should be wrapped in canvas and tarred for about two
feet as they leave the ship and reach the wharf.
(3) Cargo gangways should be withdrawn, or tarred or whitewashed, whilst
the ship is " silent." Passenger gangways should be well lighted at
night, or removed.
(4) Ship stores and gear should periodically be moved to prevent harbour-
ing rats, and no refuse food-stuffs allowed to accumulate whilst in
port.
(B) To rid a vessel of rats:—
(1) Ships trading with Mediterranean ports east of Marseilles or with other
ports east of the Suez Canal should be deratised at the termination
of each voyage, and whilst the holds are empty. Similar precautions
should be observed on ships trading with South American ports,
and with such other ports as are from time to time reported as
infected with plague.
(2) The most effective method for destroying rats on board ship is by
fumigating the holds, alleyways, cabins, food stores, pantries, living
quarters, chain-lockers, and peaks with sulphur gas, and the Master
or Owner of any vessel which is found to be definitely infested will
be required to use this method.
(3) Simultaneously with this a deck search should be instituted of boats,
steam-pipe casings, winch barrels, or other places which may afford
shelter to rats.
(4) Systematic trapping should be earned out both whilst the vessel is in
port and at sea. If the ship is empty, regular inspection should be
made of holds, store rooms, and elsewhere, and rat hunts instituted.
t'5) The keeping of cats on board is of definite advantage.
(6) It is of considerable value when rats are confined within the limits of a
ship to catch them alive, to kill all the females, and to set the males
at liberty on board.
(G) Precautions in handling rats :—
(1) Rats caught alive should be drowned and then burned in the ship's
furnace. At no time should rats be handled directly owing to the risk