Barrel Makes Scaling Fish A Snap

Barrel Makes Scaling Fish A Snap MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 30-2-32 When you catch fish by the hundreds, scaling by hand gets old real fast. That's why John Capps built a scaling barrel that takes all the work out of the job. "I'll go down to the ocean or to the ponds around here and catch 200-300 brim, bass and bluefish in a day," says Capps. "We have a lot of fish frys in the area, and I also give fish away to folks. I wanted an easier way to get the scales off." Capps took an old washing machine motor and a barrel and mounted them both on an angle iron framework. He mounted a cleaning table at the other end to handle the fish after they have had their scales knocked off. A spindle runs through the length of the barrel with bearings at either end. A pulley on one end of the spindle is belt-driven by the washing machine motor. He drilled hundreds of 3/8-in. dia. holes in the sides of the barrel to create a rough texture similar to the side of a cheese grater. A hinged door cut in the side of the barrel lets Capps dump in fish. Once the flap door is closed, he starts the barrel spinning and turns on a garden hose over the top of the barrel to cushion and wash the fish. "It will hold about 75 to 100 fish 3/4 to 1 lb. in size," says Capps. "If the fish are larger, we put fewer in at a time. We leave the fish in the barrel for 30 to 45 minutes." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, John W. Capps, 543 Fleshood Lane, Lawrenceville, Va. 23868 (ph 434 848-4274).

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