The concept of the "riparian loner"

[dazed&confused]

I'm supposed to write a paper on the "riparian loner," and how it relates as a theme to Cannery Row, but I've never heard of the term, and a quick Google search turns up a shoddy paper that doesn't define the term at all. (Somehow, I feel like one of my professor's previous students wrote the thing.)

Did my professor make up the concept of the "riparian loner," or am I missing something?

Your help is appreciated!