[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] St Petersburg Records

[George Whitehead]

I need a refresher course in looking up entries in the St. Petersburg
Records.

Would some kind soul please tell me the basics if how these records are
arranged?  By year obviously, but are they listed by village and township?

For example, I am looking for an entry for Gustav Palnau born around 1880 in
the village of :
Gruenfeld VlhU Pulin Heimthal or

Gruental VlhU Pulin Heimthal 1867 e aka Jaswinka

Help will be appreciated

George and Lois (a Palnau) Whitehead