§ 16-12. Rodent control measures.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person in charge of any vessel to lay, fasten or cause to be laid or fastened any line, rope or cable from such vessel to any wharf, pier or bulkhead, or to any other vessel in the Harbor of Galveston unless such line, rope or cable is fixed and equipped with what is known as a rat protector or rat guard, of not less than thirty-six (36) inches in diameter and of a pattern or design approved by the director of public health.

(b)

It shall be unlawful for any person in charge of any vessel to discharge or permit to be discharged from such vessel any freight, cargo or passengers without maintaining a strict guard on all gangways, planks or steps leading therefrom to prevent the escape of rats from such vessel.

(c)

It shall be unlawful for any person to unload or remove or permit to be unloaded or removed any crated cargo from any vessel until such crated cargo has been carefully inspected to insure against rats being brought ashore therein.

(d)

Whenever the deck of any vessel berthed, moored or docked at any wharf, pier or bulkhead in the harbor shall sink to less than seven (7) feet above the surface of such wharf, pier or bulkhead, such vessel shall be fended away from such pier, wharf or bulkhead (except during stormy weather) a distance of not less than four (4) feet by short floating spars fastened together, and in such case the rat guard or protector on each line, rope or hawser of such vessel shall be placed no more than one foot distant from the vessel.

(Code 1960, §§ 11-24—11-26)