[This essay was put together after Emerson's death from a number of commencement and similar addresses he had made. It appears in The Complete Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, edited by Edward Emerson].
Freshly shucked oysters can be immersed in water and placed in shallow, air-tight containers in the freezer. Freezer temperatures should be below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Oysters can be frozen for up to three months.
Fresh oysters -- whether live or shucked -- will keep in your refrigerator for up to two days. Oysters that were cooked when fresh will last up to four days when refrigerated. Proper storage is key for the survival of fresh, live oysters: do not seal them in an airtight container as the lack of oxygen may kill them.