Artisanal fishing is a family affair in Marseille. The mending of small tears in the nets is often practiced aboard the fishing boats by the fishermen themselves or their wives, who must be able to resolve at least rudely the urgent repair problems as quickly as possible. They check the nets at the quayside between two outings and repair them by using molds - flat or rounded pieces of wood – to lace the meshes and needles of various shapes made of wood, bone, plastic, or metal to carry the thread.