Bismarck, Prince Otto Edward Leopold von (1815-1898), Prusso-German statesman, who was the architect and first chancellor (1871-1890) of the German Empire. In 1870 Bismarck prodded France into a war with the German states. The ensuing German national enthusiasm allowed him to bring the reluctant south German states into a united Germany.

Bismarck - capital city of North Dakota, in the south central part of the state on the Missouri River. It is a trade centre for grain and livestock, and has industries producing farm machinery, processed food, printed materials, and steel products. The population is 49,256.

Herring - common name for several fish characterised by a single short dorsal fin in the middle of the upper margin of the body, and by an anal fin similarly located below. The head is scaleless, and the slender body is covered with thin, cycloid scales. This huge family of saltwater fish has over a hundred varieties. The popular herring swims in gigantic schools and can be found in the cold waters of the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Fresh herring are available during the spring on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. When fresh, the high-fat herring has a fine, soft texture that is suited for baking, sautéing and grilling.

Bismarck Herring - unskinned herring fillets that have been cured in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, salt and onions. fillets wrapped around a piece of pickle or onion and preserved in Rollmops are Bismarck herring spiced vinegar. Pickled herring (also called marinated herring) are marinated in vinegar and spices before being bottled in either a sour-cream sauce or a wine sauce. The term can also refer to herring that have been dry-salted before being cured in brine.

The Bismarck Herrings - a stomping little ceilidh band made up of two burly gentlemen and one particularly super girlie who play excellent English traditional dance tunes for people to jump about to. Formed in 1996, they can be found across the British Isles and are particularly good when pickled. They are best known under their common name, The Bismarcks.