James (Jimmy) McLaughlan Nairn (1859 - 1904) often painted around Wellington Harbour. The fisherman calmly goes about his business near Roseneath, while the port bustles with shipping. A loaded vessel steams past other anchored ships waiting to dock, while two little sailing boats bob on the choppy sea. Nairn has captured Impressionist moments in characteristic blobs of pure colour for the viewer to mix visually.

In the winter of 1898 Nairn got soaked while painting out of doors and caught pneumonia, resulting in a long convalescence. Perhaps this painting was the cause of his near-death experience.