Alright, I need some help. I'm trying to make a homemade fish scaler. I have photographed a couple and copied them, but I've got something wrong.

Here's the problem. I took a 30 gallon metal barrel and punched holes in it. I ran a shaft thru it at an angle, this makes the fish move in the barrel in two directions. I have a 12 inch pulley attached to the barrel shaft, I have a two inch pulley attached to the electric motor, the motor turns at 1700 RPM's. With this set up, the barrel turns way to fast. I've tried a 4 inch pulley on the motor, still to fast, then I tried a 14 inch pulley on the motor, still to fast. At the speeds the motor turns the barrel, it would hold the fish to the side of the barrel and not let them move around in the barrel.

What is my problem? Is the motor to fast? Are the pulleys' the problem? I'm trying to use what I have on hand. Can any of you fishermen help me figure this out?

Thanks,
dog1