Whatever is that?

Yes, on closer inspection, this did prove to be exactly what it looks like.

Drying fish to preserve it is an ancient human practice.

Drying is a method of food preservation that works by removing water from the food, which inhibits the growth of microorganisms. Open air drying using sun and wind has been practiced since ancient times to preserve food.[1] Water is usually removed by evaporation (air drying, sun drying, smoking or wind drying)...

What was unusual was to encounter this at the end of a cul-de-sac in a working class neighborhood of our still somewhat weird and wacky city.

A Walking San Francisco out-take, obviously.