Thread by @DrOliBetts

Ike Matthews, who in 1898 wrote about his 25 years of rat-catching, worked extensively for the railways:

“I have also caught Rats and taken young ones out of the nest from under railway sleepers where trains have been running and shunting operations carried on every day…”

https://twitter.com/DrOliBetts/status/1363618963335315458

His favourite trick was to enter a Third Class carriage, wait until it was full, then produce his crate of caught live rats from under his seat:

"to the amusement of some and the disgust of others"

"on enquiring of the railway officials, I have found that any one travelling with live rats is expected to put them in the guard's van"

which must have been a treat for the guard!

His advice to would-be rat-catchers?

Get yourself a sturdy bag to keep your rats in.

Otherwise:

"if he had a number of Rats in an unserviceable bag which happened to break open at a railway station, I think he could be summoned for the damage the escaped Rats might do."

His biggest gripe?

Like all passengers - ticket price:

"The expenses of travelling come very heavy sometimes, for wherever the rat-catcher goes he always has to pay railway fare for himself and his dog."

Buying a dog ticket was a very common expense for c19th travellers.