Abstract: Machines for loading fish in boxes having a first conveyor supporting a series of transport containers and serving to transfer fish sideways while each is disposed in its respective transport container in a preselected position with the heads of fish in adjacent containers facing in opposite directions and the bellies directed upwards. The fish transfer is made from one or a pair of cooperating feeders to a second conveyor having a series of catch devices adapted to engage their respective fish and effect transfer thereof to an associated box for deposition therein. The two conveyors are arranged to be driven at a uniform speed in a continuous circulatory movement. The relative disposition of the conveyors is such that local regions of the paths of movement of the catch devices and the transport containers coincide enabling the catch devices to engage their respective fish in the transport containers one after the other.