Abstract: In a fish scaling machine having a framework, a power source, a conveyor supporting one side of a fish and a hold down assembly yieldably engaging the other side of the fish, a descaler roll mounted on a drive shaft journaled upon the framework and connected to the power source. A pair of aligned engaging cylindrical roller bodies having right angular end faces are mounted end to end upon the drive shaft and secured thereto. Generally parallel helical teeth upon, around and projecting from each roller body, the teeth on said bodies being inclined rearwardly toward each other at an acute angle to the drive shaft. Teeth at their one ends extending to an end face of each roll body and with their other ends having axial projections extending outward of their other end faces, the teeth extensions of one roller body overlying the other roller body, extending between and interlocked with the adjacent teeth of the other roll body at their engaging end faces.

Abstract: A fish decapitator and eviscerator comprises a framework mounting a power driven conveyor belt including a series of flexibly connected open ended transverse containers, each container adapted to support a fish. An adjustable stop is spaced from the containers, and a power rotated brush is mounted upon the framework and rotatable in a plane at right angles to the belt. The bristles frictionally engage each fish thereunder during feeding of the belt laterally advancing the fish outwardly of its container successively to the stop. A power rotated knife rotates in a plane parallel to the stop for successively severing the fish heads during longitudinal movement of the belt. The fish move downwardly around the end of the belt and drop belly down into a transverse feed channel. A conveyor underlies the channel and advances the fish in a line to and between a pair of opposed horizontal coplanar flexible fish holding and feeding conveyors.

Abstract: An automatic fish feeder and orientor has a framework with top rails upon which are pivotally mounted spaced pairs of supports. A reciprocal feed table overlies and is pivotally mounted on the supports. A reciprocal feed plate is spaced below the table and is pivotally connected to the lower ends of the supports. A fish receiver is mounted upon the table and terminates at one end in a fish outlet. A fish delivery channel is mounted along the feed plate. A chute at one end communicates with the receiver outlet and at its other end, communicates with the delivery channel. Gill engaging supports are mounted within the receiver and channel for intermittently feeding the fish head first in one direction, through the outlet and chute and along the delivery channel. A power drive reciprocates the feed plate and connected table, moving them in opposite directions.