[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.
About 5 - 7 days. When you store fresh oysters in the shell in the refrigerator, leave the grit and dirt on them. This helps insulate and keep the oysters moist. Make sure they have air, do not put them in a sealed plastic bag because they need to breathe.