SamCG:

In sqlplus, you can set the line size and column formats. Doing so would let you put each record on a single line, making it easier to parse. sqlplus can even put its output in HTML format, if that would be useful.

It may not help you in this case, but if you have to do something similar in the future, insist that the person providing the report format it reasonably.

(Note: I agree with the earlier suggestions to use DBI/DBD, but I know you can't always do that.)

...roboticus

When your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like your thumb.