[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.
Safely Serving Oysters. Do not leave oysters, whether raw or cooked, out at room temperature for more than two hours or for more than one hour on a hot day above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep raw oysters in the refrigerator or in a cooler with ice until ready to eat, and then serve them on ice.