"Dwarves can't swim" where did this come from?

[Willie the Duck]

There was something. Flint couldn't swim, and I'm fairly sure he said dwarves can't, period. But I threw out the books many years ago, so I can't check =)

They were awful, anyways. No matter how much I loved them at the time.

I wonder how influential they were. I mean, every gaming nerd *I* knew at the time read at least the original trilogy, but do they have long-lasting influence (such that a reference to dwarves not swimming in them could have lasting influence)? I guess I really don't know.