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Oysters, to Keep

Cover the oysters with cold salt and water, allowing six ounces of salt to each gallon of water. When they have lain for twelve hours, drain them, and leave them bare for the same length of time, then put fresh salt and water over them again, and repeat this change every twelve hours until the oysters are wanted for the table. They may be kept alive thus for a week or ten days in moderate weather. When oysters are carefully and tightly packed in barrels directly they are taken from the beds, they will keep good for some days without water. A handful of oatmeal is occasionally put into the water which covers them, with the idea of feeding the oysters, but though this improves their appearance, it quite spoils their flavour.