Where can I buy Surströmming or Hakarl in the United States by
mailorder (Also I only speak english, and I cannot order using any
other language)?

Having tasted sufstromming in the past, I would hope that it not be
allowed to be imported into the US.  For those who aren't familiar
with it, it is basically fish that has been allowed to rot in a can. 
It must be opened under water because the fumes are so terrible.

Surely there has to be someone from Sweden or Iceland that can read
this and at least knows the name of somewhere I can try to contact in
reference to Surströmming and Hakarl.  Anybody out there?

Hello,
I am a Norwegian, and even if I gladly consume similar "delicacies"
(such as rakfisk), I've never got a liking for our neigbour's strange
tastes.  I tasted Hakarl once - it was not something I'd like to
repeat.  And earlier this summer I stayed at a Swedish-run hotel in
Norway - I believed something was wrong with the plumbing, but it was
only the Swedes having a surströmming feast in the kitchen.

I have done some searches for vendors, but I have found none present
on the web.  You could try contacting your neares Swedish and
Icelandic foreign station - see
http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/3696/l/sv/pd/3696/e/3682 and
http://brunnur.stjr.is/interpro/utanr/HBvefur.nsf/Pages/IslSendiradEng?OpenDocument&CountryNr=1(USA)&Lang=44
for details.  They might know of someone in the US who is able to get
what you are looking for.

Alternatively, you could place an order with
http://www.surstromming.se/shop-entre.htm in Sweden and
http://www.dutyfree.is/english/top/about_us/ - according to a post at
http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?showtopic=37371&st=90, the latter
sell tinned hakarl.

I know people in both Iceland and Sweden that should be able to help
you with this one, but shipping to the U.S. might come out costly -
and risky, as these commodities might be seized under some
bioterrorism act...

Good luck!

Thank you very much for supplying some additional information.  No
luck so far but at least it gave me a base to start my search.

I have a friend who used to operate a small store selling imported
gourmet delicacies. I asked him whether he knew of a way to buy
surströmming or hakarl in the United States. He said that this kind of
product does not travel well, since the cans tend to explode during
shipping.

Hey blazius, you wouldn't happen to know where I could get rakfisk in
the United States, would you?

Hi.
Do not know of any store in US, but he web store
www.svenskexportmat.se will ship to US (have not used them my self)
They call it "Fermented baltic herring from Röda Ulven (475 gr)"
(might be other brands as well).
I do not know what Hakarl is, but drop a mail to the store and they
might help you. And do read the "Terms of sale" about US shipping.

Best regards and good luck (for your nose)
Per-Ola Svensson

Hakarl can be obtained from Bjanarhofn, Snaefellsnesi, Iceland 438-1581
Surstromming is sold by the Swedish supermarket chain ICA.
With regard to opening it underwater - this is not true and would
dissipate the liquor its pickled in. I would encourage anyone to try
it once - I don't like it, but you have to try to know - there's more
to life than the middle road.

Hi, I'm from Sweden and I use to celebrate my holidays at an Island
outside the coast of Sweden called Ulvön, where surströmming is said
to be invented. Just to make a correction to a previous comment:
surströmming is actually not rotten, even though it tastes rotten,
it's rised. Don't know if it's true, but I've heard that it is illegal
to mail food to United States and that the receiver can get a fine. So
be careful if you want someone to mail them food.