-Blake

I don't want to use symbolic referencing,

and

I just want to create a number of arrays depending on the number of times I run through a loop

are contradictory statements. What you are asking to do is symbolic referencing. That's what you call it when you use one variable in the name of another. Other have given you good pointers to why you shouldn't do that, but if you really insist in ignoring their advice you should read perlref, particularly the section on symbolic references. Should you decide to take all the good advice that you've been given and implement this using arrays of arrays, then you might find it interesting to read, perlreftut, perllol and perldsc.

Also note that use strict explicitly bars the use of symbolic references. I assume that you're being careful and have use strict in your script. In order to use symbolic references, you'll need to put no strict 'refs' around the piece of code where you're "bending" the rules.

Blessed Be
The Pixel