The number of these Jews who obtained their right of residence through a legal fiction, by enrolling themselves as artisans or as employees of the "privileged" Jews, was very considerable, and the police expended a vast amount of energy in waging a fierce struggle against them.

The city-governor of St.
Petersburg, Gresser, who was notorious for the cruelty of his police regime, made it his specialty to hunt down the Jews.

A contemporary writer, in reviewing the events of the year 1883, gives the following description of the exploits of the metropolitan police: The campaign was started at the very beginning of the year and continued uninterruptedly until the end of it.

Early in March the metropolitan police received orders to search most rigorously the Jewish residences and examine the passports.

In the police stations special records were instituted for the Jews.