I think you'll find that # starts a comment. so that line doesn't do anything.

Also, generally people will tell you to use strict; and use warnings; at the top of your code. which might give you some interesting hints.

update: I don't think you really understand split either. type perldoc -f split, especially this section:

               In scalar context, returns the number of fields found a
+nd
               splits into the @_ array.  Use of split in scalar conte
+xt is
               deprecated, however, because it clobbers your subroutin
+e argu-
               ments.

               If EXPR is omitted, splits the $_ string.  If PATTERN i
+s also
               omitted, splits on whitespace (after skipping any leadi
+ng
               whitespace).  Anything matching PATTERN is taken to be 
+a delim-
               iter separating the fields.  (Note that the delimiter m
+ay be
               longer than one character.)
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