<P> Cotton piece - goods, cotton twist and yarn, metals and kerosene oil were the main items of import while animal hides and skins, raw cotton, coffee and piece - goods were the chief exports . Raw cotton, animal hides, oil seeds, grains, pulses, coffee, tea and cotton manufactures were the main items of sea trade . Most of the sea trade was carried through the presidency's principal port of Madras . Other important ports were Gopalpur, Kalingapatnam, Bimlipatnam, Visakhapatnam, Masulipatnam, Cocanada, Madras, Cuddalore, Negapatam, Pamban and Tuticorin on the east coast along with Mangalore, Cannanore, Calicut, Tellicherry, Cochin, Alleppey, Quilon (Coulão) and Colachel on the western seaboard . The port of Cochin was taken over by the Government of India on 1 August 1936, and that of Madras on 1 April 1937 . There were Chambers of Commerce in Madras, Cochin and Cocanada . These chambers each nominated a member to the Madras Legislative Council . </P> <P> Cotton - ginning and weaving were two of the main industries in the Madras Presidency . Cotton was produced in large quantities in the Bellary district and was pressed in Georgetown, Madras . The scarcity of cotton in Lancashire caused by a decline in trade due to the American Civil War gave an impetus to cotton and textile production and led to cotton presses being established all over the Presidency . In the early years of the 20th century, Coimbatore emerged as an important centre for cotton textiles and earned the epithet "Manchester of South India". The northern districts of Godavari, Vizagapatam and Kistna were well - known cotton - weaving centres . There was a sugar factory at Aska in Ganjam run by F.J.V. Minchin and another at Nellikuppam in South Arcot district run by the East India Distilleries and Sugar Factories Company . In the Telugu - speaking northern districts of the presidency large quantities of tobacco were cultivated to be subsequently rolled into cheroots . Trichinopoly, Madras and Dindigul were the main cheroot - producing areas . Until the discovery of artificial aniline and alizarine dyes, Madras possessed a thriving vegetable dye manufacturing industry . The city also imported large quantities of aluminium for the manufacture of aluminium utensils . In the early 20th century, the government established the Chrome Tanning Factory which manufactured high - quality leather . The first brewery in the Presidency was founded in the Nilgiri Hills in 1826 . Coffee was cultivated in the region of Wynad and the kingdoms of Coorg and Mysore while tea was grown on the slopes of the Nilgiri Hills . Coffee plantations were also established in Travancore but a severe blight at the end of the 19th century destroyed coffee cultivation in the kingdom and almost wiped out coffee plantations in neighbouring Wynad . Coffee - curing works were located at Calicut, Tellicherry, Mangalore and Coimbatore . In 1947, Madras had 3,761 factories with 276,586 operatives . </P> <P> The presidency's fishing industry thrived, with Shark's fins, fish maws and fish curing - operations the main sources of income for fishermen . The southern port of Tuticorin was a centre of conch - fishing but Madras, along with Ceylon, was mainly known for its pearl fisheries . Pearl fisheries were harvested by the Paravas and was a lucrative profession . </P> <P> The total revenue of the Presidency was ₹ 57 crores in 1946--47 made as follows: Land revenue, ₹ 8.53 crores; Excise, ₹ 14.68 crores; Income tax, ₹ 4.48 crores; Stamp revenue, ₹ 4.38 crores; forests, ₹ 1.61 crores; other taxes, ₹ 8.45 crores; Extraordinary receipts, ₹ 2.36 crores and revenue fund, Rs. 5.02 crores . Total expenditure for 1946--47 was ₹ 569.9 million . 208,675 k.v.a of electricity was generated at the end of 1948 of which 98% was under government ownership . The total amount of power generated was 467 million units . </P>

Describe some common features of the three presidency cities of colonial india