In 1904, rat catchers were a common sight in the sewers of Europe. These professional pest exterminators were paid for each rat they killed, with some earning upwards of a few hundred dollars a month.

One such rat catcher was a German man by the name of Auguste Boch. He was renowned for his speed and accuracy when it came to catching rats and was often called in by local authorities to help tackle rat infestations.

In 1904, Boch was photographed showing off the results of his work – a sack full of dead rats. The image of him holding the sack proudly is a testament to the skill and dedication of rat catchers at the time.