London Labour and the London Poor

The first section of Volume 3 covers the various types of exterminators in London. Mayhew begins by examining rat catchers, discussing their techniques, their interactions with rats, and the complexities of rat populations. The text emphasizes the challenges of rats, their rapid reproduction, and the rat catchers’ role in controlling rat populations and addressing infestations. In addition, Mayhew provides accounts of rat killing matches held in a London public house and describes the professional rat catcher known as Jack Black, who was celebrated for his skills. Mayhew highlights Black’s fearless handling of rats, public demonstrations, and expertise—and touches on Black’s involvement in bird catching and fishing as well.

Mayhew then pivots to discussing other pests, including the behavior, impact on human life, and ecological roles of flies. He describes different types of flies, such as house flies and mosquitoes, emphasizing their annoyance and potential for disease transmission. Mayhew details the young boys who sell “catch-’em-alive” fly papers, the manufacturing process of fly paper, and the trade’s seasonal and uncertain nature. The author also examines other bugs, such as fleas and bed bugs, providing detailed descriptions. Mayhew concludes the section by touching on crickets and the cultural significance of their chirping in literature and daily life.