At the end of the run the dredge would be lifted onto the deck and the live oysters separated from the dead shells and other debris.

However, subsequent editions have reversed this position (advocating against eating live oysters).

It has gotten hard to find live oysters now.

If no oysters settle naturally, the next step would be to add some imported live oysters to the bed of shells to seed the area with larvae, he said.

"You can see a display of freshness, see a man opening live oysters right there in front of you," he said.

A live oyster will have a smooth, plump body and briny smell, while a dead oyster will smell of sulfur.

He claimed that angling was much crueler and that it was just as logical to ban the boiling of live lobsters or eating live oysters.

The shells of live oysters are normally tightly closed or snap shut given a slight tap.

Open oysters should be tapped on the shell; a live oyster will close up and is safe to eat.

One or two wizards, stately men who had hitherto done nothing more blameworthy that eat a live oyster, turned themselves invisible and chased the maids and bedders through the corridors.