CHAPTER X.MAN'S RELATION TO THE WATER.
The protection of a water frontier--Pile villages of ancient times--Modern pile dwellings--Their geographic distribution--River-dwellers in old and popular lands--Man's encroachment upon the sea by reclamation of land--The struggle with the water--Mound villages in river flood-plains--Social and political gain by control of the water--A factor in early civilization of arid lands--The economy of the water--Fisheries--Factors in maritime expansion--Fisheries as nurseries of seamen--Anthropo-geographic importance of navigation..