The stream near Bayou La Batre was known during the period of French occupation as "Riviere d'Erbane," then as "Rivere la batterie" because of the French artillery battery located on its banks. The town's name combines bayou, the Gallicized form of "bok," the Choctaw word for "creek," with "la batre," derived from "la batterie." Clarence Mallet, born in St. Martinville, Louisiana, moved to Bayou La Batre in 1925 and brought with him a strong belief that God's blessings are essential to a good harvest from the sea. Acting on that belief, he persuaded Father Alex O'Neil to hold the first Blessing of the Fleet in 1949, a public acknowledgment of God seeking blessings for a bountiful harvest and for the safety of the men who go to sea. The tradition Mallet brought to the Mobile County community has continued over the years.