The coho fingerlings were released June 9 despite substantial evidence that they were sick, according to Friday's report, which added, "This action may have contributed to the spread of the disease to other ponds in the hatchery."

The hatchery produces more than 640,000 salmon annually.

Two current hatchery employees reported the release to the office of U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., when their complaints to hatchery managers were ignored, The Daily World newspaper in Aberdeen reported.

"What happened was a fluke," said hatchery project leader Paul Hayduk, who authorized the release. "We should have had the salmon checked out by our Fish Health Center prior to releasing them. ... I have no reason for why we didn't."

The preliminary diagnosis was furunculosis, which creates boil-like lesions on the skin and musculature of infected fish.

Untreated fish will die, the report said. The disease also remains in carcasses and in surrounding waters, so the hatchery could be infected as the dead fish float downstream.

"Now our entire hatchery are considered carriers. They're all sick, they're all diseased. All the ponds are affected," said Herb Lawler, one of the whistleblowers. "They could all die."

Fish & Wildlife agents have begun treating the ponds with antibiotics, said spokeswoman Amy Gaskill at the agency's regional office in Portland, Ore.

The Quinault Hatchery is on Cook Creek, which flows into the Quinault River 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

The government operates the facility on Quinault Indian Nation land.