St. Louis is known for its large fishing community.  The beaches are always covered with boats.  One can find boat builders on the beaches working to meet the demand.  The fishermen paint their vessels with the names of their favorite "marabou" or Muslim holy man.   This ceremony is said to protect the fishermen who can go out for 4-5 days or more on the open ocean on one fishing trip.   During these trips the fishermen will actually  cook on open fires in their boats.    These fires have, in some cases, gotten out of control and burned the boats.

Fishermen use many technologies in their trade including nets and traps.   In the picture at the right, one can see a trap designed to catch squid.  The entrances are shaped like funnels where the squid have no problem going into the trap to eat the piece of fish put inside for bait but to find the way back out is very hard.   

Where there aren't boats on the beach, one finds racks for drying and smoking fish.   Enterprising costal residents set up bars on the sand to quench the thirsts of passing fishermen and beachcombers.