Page 7 Advertisements Column 2

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13454, 3 June 1907, Page 7

A rather remarkable result of the unceasing war against rate in Sydney is that their numbers do not diminish appreciably. Despite the fact that over 100.000 carcases are accounted for in a year, they, still swarm the wharves and other parts of the city. In some places where the battle is kept-going, unceasingly there is an apparent decrease, but a striking instance of the futility of attempts at extermination is ven by the poisoning operations carried on by the Board of Health. Starting with a poisoning crusade recently, 1200 baits were laid in one night along the wharves, and of them about 1000 were taken. Every rat that feasted on one of the morsels must have died, but their carcase? are, under such conditions, not usually found. Last week, one batch of 14 poisoned rodents was unearthed beneath a heap of shingles that was being shifted. The continuance of hordes of rats, in spite of the efforts to destroy them, seems to indicate that the port is subject to fresh invasions, but from what source is a .mystery. Some fishermen on the morning of May 11 captured off Botany Bay Head, Sydney, what is commonly known as a Chinese devil fish, a thing about Bft in length, and weighing half a ton. The fish is rarely found except in Chinese waters. The capture was taken to the fish markets, and, the fact being ascertained by a number of Chinese; residents, it was , purchased by them later in the day, and taken to the vicinity of the Haymarket, where on the following two days, festivities of an Eastern nature were indulged in. The ceremonies being completed, the monster was taken to Bondi and released near the heads, its worshippers believing that it will find its way back to China, and relieve the Chinese residents of Australia of bad luck..