The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-06-01
RAT CATCHING ON SHIPS.
When Water Runs Out. the Beasts
Swarm Over the Vessel to Find IL.

wheR Water Runs Out. the Beasts
swarm Over the Vessel to Find IL.
Chatting with some friends, the cap
tain Of a big freight steamer taking
on cargo at this port told some queer sto-
ries about rats. Il have the ship cleaned
out by professional rat catchers wheneV-
er we touch at Liverpool" he said, "and
between times we try to keep them down
by trapping. But it's hard work. We
don't dare to use poison. If we did, the
hold would soon be full Of dead rats, and
the stencil would breed fever. Our
traps IRE of the wire cage pattern, and
considerable craft has to be used in set
ting them, for ship rat is a very cum
ming beast, and he will steer clear OF de-
eoys that his landubber brothers walk
into with their eyes wide open. II we
simply baited the traps In the ordinary
way and left them about in the hold, we
wouldn't catch . dozen in year. Our
plan is this:
SON the first night we open the trap
doors and tie them in that position with
bits OF string, SO they can't possibly
spring shut. Then we put scraps of OLD
cheese inside and leave them until the
following evening. That's to reassure
the rats that the strange wire contriv-
ances. are perfectly harmless and that
they may enter with q certainty of get
ting out again. Next night We renew
the bait and take off the strings, and, as
q general thing, we catch all that the
cages will hold. / have seen them so full
that 1t seemed impossible to get another
rat inside, which is pretty good evidence,
as take It, that they cant communicate
with each other and give the alarm.
There is nothing new about the trick
describe; it is practiced on all big ships
when the rats get too bad.
"As long rs the creatures have enough
water to drink" continued the captain.
lighting a fresh cigar, "they don't give
the crew any particular trouble and keep
| ont of sight down in the bowels OF the
shin. But thirst makes them desperate,
| and then they become an unmitiGated
nuisance and will 80 boldly anywhere i'll
search of n drink. / have known them
| TO invade the forecastle in such numbers
| that they drove the sailors to the deck,
| and at other times I have seen several
| hundred make q combined rush for va
| ter barrel.
.aIt would surprise most people unac-
| customed to seafaring life to know that
water is usually kept in the hold OF cargo
ships especially for the rats. It's done
L to Keep tncm DelOW' anu ~ Ava ~A'
son the supply runs short there is sure TO
be trouble. / said just now that when
the creatures were thirsty they would 60
anywhere, and 1 mean it to the letter
They will climb the rigging like monkeys
and It is a common thing for them TO sc
clear up to the topsails looking for tnt
rainwater that accumulates In the blSh'
or fold of Curled canvas.
Last time was in port saw green
sailor get the scare Of his life. he mac
zone aloft to shake out the topgalian
sail. and as he did so four enormous rat'
sprang out and ran up one arm. across
his shoulders and down the other side
He was SO startled that he let loose al
holds and would certainly have fallen t
the deck if he hadn't providentiaii!
caught on the footline. Many OF III
fo'castle hands make pets of rats our
| ing a long voyage, and 1t Is ASTONISHING
how easily they can be tanned anu mao
To perform tricks. When proressionS,
catcher comes aboard for general raiu
there is always q frantic rounding up .
these pets to get them out OF Marin
way until after the battle is OYER
Orleans Times-Dcmocrat.