John R. Griffin, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, has named Forest, Wildlife and Heritage Service director Eric Schwaab to replace Dr. Robert Bachman as head of the state Fisheries Service.

Bachman, 65, is retiring after 13 years with DNR.

Schwaab, who has held a number of positions with DNR over 16 years, transferred to fisheries effective last Wednesday.

Schwaab, 38, began his career with DNR in 1983 as a Natural Resources Police officer, managed Deep Creek Lake State Park, served in waterfront and resource management positions with the State Forest and Park Service and was director of the Forest Service.

Rich Dolesh has been named to replace Schwaab as director of FWHS.

Dolesh moves over from his positions as chief of natural and historical resources with the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission.

Jeff Horan, regional forester in Maryland's central region, has been named deputy director to Dolesh.

Yellow perch update

The major portion of the yellow perch spawn has come and gone, apparently occurring during the recent cold snap, according to DNR.

"Southern Maryland tributaries, Wye Mills, St. Paul's and Hillsboro all saw mostly spent females with egg strands evident," reports Martin L. Gary of the Fisheries Service. "Crouse Mill dam and Millington might still be worth trying, as our biologists reported seeing ripe females at those locations."

Northern tributaries such as the North East River and Big Elk Creek also might be worth trying.

Biologists also report white perch beginning to mass in preparation for their spawning run.