Living on the northwest coast where fish and plants are plentiful, the Nuu-chah-nulth found baskets helpful for storing berries, carrying wood, and were produced for the market. Baskets also served as their first form of currency along with dressed animal skins and shell beads. The Nuu-chah-nulth were very skilled at controlling the form of their baskets. They came in many shapes from cylindrical to rectangular, often accompanied with lids. Another distinct feature of Nuu-chah-nulth baskets is the use of colors and incorporation of figures from their environment.