The Grenada gazette., 1888-06-30
HUNTING SEWER RATS.
4 Trip Under Ground In the Hsunts .
London Vermln.

y TIP un0or 0r0un0 IN tho HoUnte u
London vermln.
Locomotion was necessarily slow,
canton being required as to where you
placed each foot. | found that it did
not add to my enjoyment Of the novel
" of the affair when ! occasionally
found one leg knee deep in water and
the other high up on dry land. Heaps
Of dried mud here and there some
times enabled us to step out after the
fashion Of crossing brook over step
ping stones; at other times we We were
compelled to wade through the rush.
ing liquid, carefully peering about for
pitfalls. with our candles held low be-
forc us. Our guide now suddenly flew
Of again. He had heard the patter-
ing Of rats in the distance. It was a
marvel how he could fly along. with
nothing to guide him, through the per-
feet darkness ahead, and simply the
small, round spot of light thrown on
the rushing waters by his curious Ian
tern, always about two feet in advance
OF him. Our candles could afford him
no assistance and he must have been
well acquainted with the various turn
ings. 1t is mystery that the man had
escaped death so long, having pursued
his strange calling for over forty years.
The rat-catcher first darts off as
noiselessly as possible. If there are
rats about. the pattering of their feet
as they fly off soon betrays the hunted
creatures. They sometimes keep up
the chase for a good distance. especially
if the water is not too deep TO allow
them the chance Of jumping from
the many heaps of mud washed up
at the sides by the continuous action Of
the water. The rats must be fairly
run down before they are captured.
Should they lead their chaser into a
cutting where the water is deep he
would be most likely drowned
very quickly, but at the increased
roar of the waters the hunter makes
sudden pause. sends u blessing
after the escaped animals, and turns
back. The rat-catcher knows that so
long as there is probable means of
escape open to them they will run, but
should he drive them into corner the
frightened creatures will turn and do
battle for their freedom. While in the
act of flying away the rat is easiest
captured He is quickly seized about
the loins, below the forelegs, and held
so tightly that he can not turn freely
enough to bite, as rule. Nevertheless,
the hunter does not always have it all
his own way. Sometimes he gets some
very ugly gashes on his hand, and on
some occasion. some fierce old rat
when unearthed with his partner and
family, has been known to face his en-
emy and make a most desperate fight
for it, even flying at the face and fixing
onto the nose of the would-be captor.
If a rat is found in company with his
dame he Will make fight for it
and give some trouble before he is Sc
cured. When a swarm of rats is met
with in the sewers, either by the regu-
lar sewer hands or the solitary rat
catcher, who usually works alone, they
are quietly allowed to 60 their way.
They will not attack if allowed to pass,
but it might be risky to face Il swarm
Of sewer rats, led on by their king and
followed by their queen. The regular
sewer rat, being well fud. is not su
dangerous as one would imagine.
They have a very natural horror of the
sight of dog and have been known to
Jump upon the owner OF the same for
Pail Mall Gazette.