Abstract: An improvement on a packing machine for packing whole fish in tins, especially brisling, young herring, sardines or the like. The machine has a chain- or belt-conveyor with holders for each individual fish and a feed device, carrying fish which have been given a uniform orientation in respective supply means positioned on both sides of the conveyor. The holders on the chain or belt conveyor are arranged such that they can be lowered flush with or below the transport plane of the conveyor, such that a plurality of fish lie freely movable at the end section of the packing machine. A transfer conveyor overlaps said first conveyor and moves at a lower linear velocity than said first conveyor. Means are arranged at the transfer conveyor for pushing the fish together.