{
  local $/ = '<tag>';
  while (<>) {
    # do stuff
  }
}

##</code><code>##

   Setting $/ to a reference to an integer, scalar 
   containing an integer, or scalar that's convertible to an
   integer will attempt to read records instead of lines, 
   with the maximum record size being the referenced
   integer.  So this:

   local $/ = \32768; # or \"32768", or \$var_containing_32768
   open my $fh, $myfile or die $!;
   local $_ = <$fh>;

   will read a record of no more than 32768 bytes from FILE.  
   If you're not reading from a record-oriented
   file (or your OS doesn't have record-oriented files),    
   then you'll likely get a full chunk of data with
   every read.  If a record is larger than the record size 
   you've set, you'll get the record back in pieces.