Trees 'pop' in very cold weather. Knowing that mishoonash are hollowed trees, our ancestors knew that a mishoon would also 'pop' or expand if left out in the cold weather. By sinking a mishoon for the winter, it was better preserved by the water's moderate temperature changes. Mishoonash left onshore split or cracked. In the spring, the rocks were removed, the mishoon rose to the surface and was ready for use.
