Well, I should say how can you open them without a proper shucker?

We are in Malagash on the North Shore of Nova Scotia, on the Northumberland Strait, where these cheeky devils grow prolific and fat. They are the "famous" (to North Americans anyway) Tatamagouche and Malagash oyster described here at a New York Oyster Bar I found on Google

http://www.blackpearlonline.com/oystermenu

There's a whole load across the road from me but I have no idea if I am allowed to pick them let alone open them (or sell them?). Please help...wife is waiting upstairs!

Check with Nova Scotia's 'Fisheries' department.

I'm on the west coast so it will likely be different but there are 'seasons' depending on the species, there are 'bag limits' and size restrictions, there are areas that are 'off limits' unless you live on that reserve, there are areas where the shellfish are contaminated with 'redtide' and/or other nasties that can make you very ill and areas that are 'closed' for conservation reasons.

In BC I believe you need a licence to harvest oysters (it's been years, I can't remember exactly), I'm not sure about NS but I would check.

Shuck me, suck me, eat me raw!

I can never fathom why anyone would want to eat a bogey with slime. Gross.

I'm afraid I have to agree - i'm always thrown on how they can be an afrodisiac! it's a bit off putting to look at, however, never tasted them so I can't really say for sure!

With enough lemon juice and tabasco they taste pretty good for the nanosecond before they hit your stomach

On second thoughts may be thats because you can't actually taste the thing and by that stage you taste buds are burnt off with tabasco

Thanks - will do. I know the waters here were recently checked and were clear of contamination though I think there was a problem in Fundy.

Well a lot of people seem to like them.......and pay a lot too! They do seem to affect me in the way they're supposed to but whether that is psychological or not I''m not sure! If only I could get the ******s open!

They are starting tours of an oyster farm nearby this year (it's supposed to be the third biggest in North America) where you can pluck and shuck your own, and this is the good bit - taste them with a souvenir photo of your first swallow. Now Gran would like that.

Don't think anyone would want to see the the photo of me with my first one it wouldn't be a pretty site I'm sure. Maybe it's the thought of it of course.

Hope you get and enjoy those oysters.

THAT IS SOOOOOOO FUNNY.......nearly wet myself.....
Nice one , Daft Batty !

Why, thank you