Web Page > Memory Reduction

I have windows XP and xl2k. I have a single- sheet workbook (9MB) linked to another multi-sheet workbook of databases (20MB). The single-sheet workbook has about 100 pictures (30k ea) that, when a number is entered, searches the database. If no match is found for a given picture and product info, then the picture is deleted and the rows are hidden (macros). Usually, about 10 products are found in the database for any one entry.

My goal is that I can "save as > web page" and email these results off to my customer. The problem is the after-the-search result page is about 1MB and so too is the .htm file that is created when I "save as > web page." I was thinking that 10 pictures at 30k should be around 300k plus the formatting (no?). I cleared the "tools>option>general>web options>general>save any additional hidden data..." to little effect. Is there a macro that will delete the hidden rows which I should run AFTER the product search (because deleting them instead of hiding them messes up the macro run) - I'm sure that would help (right?). But my original thought was that the .htm file size would not be affected by hidden rows.

The per-item section of excel is 375 cells + the picture with simple font and formatting and no other objects, etc... When I delete the picture and save as > web page just this one-item section area (375 cells), the .html file is 37kb in size. That seems large to me (yes/no?). (10 x 37K = 370K before pictures!). This may be a reasonable file size, I'm no expert. I read a post where xl2003 has a compression application - is that what I need, or is there a 3rd-party app that can help me reduce the size of this file in htm. Or, is this the best I can expect from this method and I should be exploring elsewhere (metatags?).