$ /opt/perl/5.8.0-RC3/bin/perldoc -q 'delete a line'
Found in /opt/perl/5.8.0-RC3/lib/5.8.0-RC3/pod/perlfaq5.pod
       How do I change one line in a file/delete a line in a
       file/insert a line in the middle of a file/append to the
       beginning of a file?

               Use the Tie::File module, which is included in the
               standard distribution since Perl 5.8.0.

The Tie::File module should be available on CPAN as well.

However, since you have a small database, I would use any of the DBM modules that come with Perl. This is the perfect task for them.

Abigail