Abstract
IN 1840, in a voyage from Sydney, viâ Madras, to London, about three weeks after leaving the latter, it was found that a number of water-butts, on their heads in the between-decks, were leaking. On examining them we ascertained that as many as ten or twelve butts had been perforated by rats; three or four were entirely empty from the leakage so caused, while the remainder contained ullages from about half to a few gallons. In every case the stave had been eaten through just above the chime hoop, and those which had been apparently most recently operated on had only been perforated so as to cause a slight weeping, while the empty ones showed an opening as large as an ordinary vent-peg hole. The rest of the voyage a tub placed in the square of the main hatchway was kept constantly supplied with water, besides one or more square tins of water on the main deck.
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A'COURT SMITH, E. Rats and Water Casks. Nature 19, 529 (1879). https://doi.org/10.1038/019529c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/019529c0
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