Yes, Tolkien was inspired by the theory of his colleguae Alister Hardy so he described the origin of the hobbits as such. Gollum, as Smeagol, was a proto-Stoor Hobbit having an affinity for water. <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;plus.google.com&#x2F;111888294497330611124&#x2F;posts&#x2F;cj73v8FjZgi" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;plus.google.com&#x2F;111888294497330611124&#x2F;posts&#x2F;cj73v8Fj...</a>