129.—(1) Where a seaman is discharged before a superintendent, the master shall make and sign, in a form approved by the Board of Trade, a report of the conduct, character, and qualifications of the seaman discharged, or may state in the said form that he declines to give any opinion upon such particulars, or upon any of them, and the superintendent before whom the discharge is made shall, if the seaman desires, give to him or endorse on his certificate of discharge a copy of such report (in this Act referred to as the report of character).

(2) The superintendent shall transmit the reports to the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, or to such other person as the Board of Trade may direct, to be recorded.