14. Riverboat Pilot
Riverboat pilots commanded shallow-draft steamers along the twisting Missouri River. They memorized hidden currents and underwater snags that could rip hulls apart. Each day they peered into swirling eddies, balancing speed against the risk of plowing into submerged logs. One wrong turn at dawn or under hidden shoals could send a vessel crashing into canyon walls. Only the steadiest hands and nerves of steel kept crews afloat and cargo safe.
